Angelou - And Still I Rise

Touch Me,
Life, Not Softly Is it true the ribs can tell The kick of a beast from a Lovers fist? The bruised Bones recorded well The sudden shock, the Hard impact. Then swollen lids, Sorry eyes, spoke not Of lost romance, but hurt. Hate often is confused.

Its Limits are in zones beyond itself. And Sadists will not learn that Love by nature, exacts a pain Unequalled on the rack.

Funky blues Keen toed shoes High water pants Saddy night dance Red soda water and anybodys daughter for Paul Your hands easy weight, teasing the bees hived in my hair, your smile at the slope of my cheek. On the occasion, you press above me, glowing, spouting readiness, mystery rapes my reason. When you have withdrawn your self and the magic, when only the smell of your love lingers between my breasts, then, only then, can I greedily consume your presence. Where We Belong, A Duet In every town and village, In every city square, In crowded places I searched the faces Hoping to find Someone to care.

I read mysterious meanings In the distant stars, Then I went to schoolrooms And poolrooms And half-lighted cocktail bars. Braving dangers, Going with strangers, I dont even remember their names. I was quick and breezy And always easy Playing romantic games. I wined and dined a thousand exotic Joans and Janes In dusty dance halls, at debutante balls, On lonely country lanes. I fell in love forever, Twice every year or so. I wooed them sweetly, was theirs completely, But they always let me go.

Saying bye now, no need to try now, You dont have the proper charms. Too sentimental and much too gentle I dont tremble in your arms. Then you rose into my life Like a promised sunrise. Brightening my days with the light in your eyes. Ive never been so strong, Now Im where I belong.

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

Im not cute or built to suit a fashion models size But when I start to tell them, They think Im telling lies. I say, Its in the reach of my arms, The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. Im a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, Thats 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, Its the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. Im a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, Thats me. Men themselves have wondered What they see in me. They try so much But they cant touch My inner mystery. When I try to show them They say they still cant see.

I say, Its in the arch of my back, The sun of my smile, The ride of my breasts, The grace of my style. Im a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, Thats me. Now you understand Just why my heads not bowed. I dont shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing It ought to make you proud.

I say, Its in the click of my heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, The need for my care. Cause Im a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, Thats me.

When I was young, I used to Watch behind the curtains As men walked up and down The street. Wino men, old men. See them. See them.

Men are always Going somewhere. They knew I was there. Fifteen Years old and starving for them. Under my window, they would pause, Their shoulders high like the Breasts of a young girl, Jacket tails slapping over Those behinds, Men. One day they hold you in the Palms of their hands, gentle, as if you Were the last raw egg in the world. Then They tighten up.

Just a little. The First squeeze is nice. A quick hug. Soft into your defenselessness. A little More. The hurt begins.

Wrench out a Smile that slides around the fear. When the Air disappears, Your mind pops, exploding fiercely, briefly, Like the head of a kitchen match. Shattered. It is your juice That runs down their legs. Staining their shoes. Forever. Forever.

No keys exist. Then the window draws full upon Your mind. There, just beyond The sway of curtains, men walk. Knowing something. Going someplace. Maybe.

Beloved, In what other lives or lands Have I known your lips Your hands Your laughter brave Irreverent. Beloved, In what other lives or lands Have I known your lips Your hands Your laughter brave Irreverent.

Those sweet excesses that I do adore. What surety is there That we will meet again, On other worlds some Future time undated. I defy my bodys haste. Without the Promise Of one more sweet encounter I will not deign to die.

Oh how you used to walk With that insouciant smile I liked to hear you talk And your style Pleased me for a while. You were my early love New as a day breaking in Spring You were the image of Everything That caused me to sing.