Reviews

A classic volume that includes some of Angelou's best known poems. It includes the titular poem that is probably Angelou's best known as well as the fabulous and well-known "Phenomenal Woman". Still, my favorite of Angelou's "Touched by an Angel" is not included:

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

crystalstarrlight's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Bullet Review:

Iconic poetry; not necessarily my favorite, but then I don't really even get poetry 100% of the time. I do appreciate a lot of the strength and pride she has in her verses.