Youmaywritemedowninhistory

Withyourbitter,twistedlies,
Youmaytreadmeintheverydirt
Butstill,likedust,I'llrise.
Doesmysassinessupsetyou?
Whyareyoubesetwithgloom?
'CauseIwalklikeI'vegotoilwells
Pumpinginmylivingroom.
Justlikemoonsandlikesuns,
Withthecertaintyoftides,
Justlikehopesspringinghigh,
StillI'llrise.
Didyouwanttoseemebroken?
Bowedheadandloweredeyes?
Shouldersfallingdownliketeardrops.
Weakenedbymysoulfulcries.
Doesmyhaughtinessoffendyou?
Don'tyoutakeitawfulhard
'CauseIlaughlikeI'vegotgoldmines
Diggin'inmyownbackyard.
Youmayshootmewithyourwords,
Youmaycutmewithyoureyes,
Youmaykillmewithyourhatefulness,
Butstill,likeair,I'llrise.
Doesmysexinessupsetyou?
Doesitcomeasasurprise
ThatIdancelikeI'vegotdiamonds
Atthemeetingofmythighs?
Outofthehutsofhistory'sshame
Irise
Upfromapastthat'srootedinpain
Irise
I'mablackocean,leapingandwide,
WellingandswellingIbearinthetide.
Leavingbehindnightsofterrorandfear
Irise
Intoadaybreakthat'swondrouslyclear
Irise
Bringingthegiftsthatmyancestorsgave,
Iamthedreamandthehopeoftheslave.
Irise
Irise
Irise.
MayaAngelou

Submitted:Friday,January3,2003
Edited:Thursday,August7,2014
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