Phenomenal Woman

The ‘Celebrating Women Through Poetry’ countdown continues!

Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou is one of my absolute favorites. It is filled with so much character and verve, just like the lady herself. Enjoy!

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 for my care.   
 ’Cause I’m a woman
 Phenomenally.
 Phenomenal woman,
 That’s me.

Dr Maya Angelou

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Dr Maya Angelou was an  American author, poet, historian, songwriter, playwright, dancer, stage and screen producer, director, performer, singer, and civil rights activist.

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I don’t hold the copyright to this piece
online source: Poetry Foundation
Print source: The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou (Random House Inc., 1994)