Poetry Friday: Maya Angelou’s Phenomenal Woman and India Arie’s Because I am a Queen

Since this week is devoted to celebrating Black History Month here in GatheringBooks, we are featuring our favorite poet of all times, Maya Angelou as she reads her poem Phenomenal Woman. Perfect for this year’s theme: Black Women in American Culture and History. Poetry Friday is hosted this week by Check it Out – do visit the featured posts today.

Here is the entire poem for your delectation:

Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me. 

I also thought that it would be great to include a video clip of India Arie singing one of my favorite songs of all time: Because I am a Queen. Enjoy the music, my lovelies:

Because I am a Queen – India Arie

sometimes i shave my legs and sometimes i don’t
sometimes i comb my hair and sometimes i won’t
depend on how the wind blows i might even paint my toes
it really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

i’m not the average from your video
and i ain’t built like a supermodel
but i learned to love myself unconditionally
because i am a queen
i’m not the average from your video
my worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
no matter what i’m wearing i will always be
india arie

when i look in the mirror and the only one there is me
every freckle on my face is where it’s supposed to be
and i know my creator didn’t make no mistakes on me
my feet my thighs my lips my eyes i’m loving what i see

i’m not the average from your video
and i ain’t built like a supermodel
but i learned to love myself unconditionally
because i am a queen (yeah)
i’m not the average from your video (woo)
my worth is not determined by the price of my clothes (whoa)
no matter what i’m wearing i will always be
india arie

am i less of a lady if i don’t wear hose
my mama said a lady ain’t what she wears but what she knows
but i’ve drawn the conclusion
it’s all an illusion
confusion’s the name of the game
a misconception a vast deception,
something’s got to change

don’t be offended this is all my opinion
ain’t nothing that i’m saying law
this is a true confession
of a life-learned lesson
i was sent here to share with y’all
so get in when you fit in
go on and shine
clear your mind
now’s the time
put your salt on the shelf
go on and love yourself (love yourself)
’cause everything’s gonna be alright (love yourself)

i’m not the average from your video
and i ain’t built like a supermodel
but i learned to love myself unconditionally
because i am a queen (yeah)
i’m not the average from your video (woo)
my worth is not determined by the price of my clothes (whoa)
no matter what i’m wearing i will always be
india arie

keep your fancy drink and your expensive minks
i don’t need that to have a good time
keep your expensive cars
and your caviar
all’s i need is my guitar
keep your cristal and your pistol
i’d rather have a pretty piece of crystal
don’t need your silicone
i prefer my own
what God gave me is just fine

i’m not the average from your video
and i ain’t built like a supermodel
but i learned to love myself unconditionally
because i am a queen
i’m not the average from your video 
my worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
no matter what i’m wearing i will always be