You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certain…
Ted, this capsulizes today's turmoil. Looking at most of the mainstream press makes me feel that they're all looking at a different world that the one in which I live. We've had enough tragedy, and now the blame is all being heaped on President Biden. Surely, they know better.
I agree, and the mainstream, with few exceptions, is as bad as Fox. I saw a clip of Seth Moulton on MSNBC, one of the two that arrived in Kabul unannounced, and, while he wasn't trashing Biden, it's clear that he's trying to boost his political capital. Jerk.
I believe journalist are not falling for it wholesale. Their are those though, that, following the Rethug-Lican demagoguery as a way to get headlines to advance their careers are taking advantage of people’s National pride and emotions.
She really reestablished the credibility of the press Sec. her future is so bright. To me Jen Psaki represents integrity, good character, professional, testament to the kind of young people our country still produces. And I’d really like my son to marry a woman like her.
The contrast to Kayleigh McEnany is so stark, yet that harpy is still spouting her nonsensical bile. That she has an audience at all speaks to the mess this country is in.
Yup, The world V CA Hampton chess. Player, Gary Kasporov has said, “ no one frim the Tr$$mp administration will go on accomplish anything of significance after.” I thought that was insightful in 2016 and noted it.
He was correct, if we're talking about positive significance. However, he (and they) have accomplished a boatload of negative, damaging significance, and we're all suffering from that.
It's so frustrating, though, that so many mainstream press sites are piling on Biden. I expect no less from Fox, but the fact that McMaster and others are being afford so much oxygen is despicable. Today's MSN news is dominated totally by Fox and similar drivel, and of course, there is the ubiquitous Kevin McCarthy and the Rethugs' calls for Tony Blinken's impeachment and enacting the 25th Amendment against Biden.
Nina Simone Furiosa! Perfect, Linda, just the right SPIRIT. Nina came to me before Maya. She drew me to her when I guessI wasn't too young to understand. Thank you.
This poem makes me think of the newest BLM design for T-shirts, hoodies, and water bottles - a dandelion stem that spells out "black lives matter" topped with a hash inside a heart inside a seed puff just beginning to disperse in the wind. The narrative that accompanies the new design:
Dandelions are often seen as undesirable but it is one of the most resilient plants.
Dandelions die in the winter, though the plant's roots live on underground, all year round.
Dandelions can be seen as flowers or weeds. Something desirable or despised.
Dandelions are often the first flower that people play and interact with as a child.
The dandelion can be a metaphor for the African diaspora, people spread across the world like a dandelion's seeds.
We are the seeds that LIVE | GROW | THRIVE regardless.
Lanita, Beautiful. You and the dandelions have me between a smile and tears. I was a dandelion fan as a child. It was a bit confusing between weed and flower. Thank you.
I've been thinking that the "Dandelions" might be our salvation. They've persisted over the generations, learned to live with disrespect but not be crushed by it, and never believe they are "less than." We should take a page from their book.
Love, love and diamonds between her warm thighs, Maya Angelou is SAINT of Tolerance and Love. Maya Angelou Is God’s messenger. Maya Angelou Is Love. Who are we?
I felt Angelou was speaking directly to me. “Poetry...is the revelation of a feeling that the poet believes to be interior and personal which the reader recognizes as his [her] own.” Salvatore Quasimodo, as quoted in the NYT. I agree with him in many but not all cases.
Still I Rise
Maya Angelou - 1928-2014
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
I love Maya Angelou--and this poem, Fern, but I have been thinking a lot more about Nina Simone's "Mississippi Goddamn!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ25-U3jNWM
My country is full of lies,
We all gonna die like flies.
I don't trust anybody anymore.
They keep sayin' go slow.
That's just the trouble,
desegregation
mass participation
unification.
Do things gradually,
Will only bring more tragedy.
Why don't you see it?
Why don't you feel it?
I don't know?"
Lets listen to Nina Simone, end the filibuster and get on with it.
Ted, this capsulizes today's turmoil. Looking at most of the mainstream press makes me feel that they're all looking at a different world that the one in which I live. We've had enough tragedy, and now the blame is all being heaped on President Biden. Surely, they know better.
They know better, they're just playing politics. It's all a game to them, and they want to collect all the marbles. It's disgusting.
I agree, and the mainstream, with few exceptions, is as bad as Fox. I saw a clip of Seth Moulton on MSNBC, one of the two that arrived in Kabul unannounced, and, while he wasn't trashing Biden, it's clear that he's trying to boost his political capital. Jerk.
I believe journalist are not falling for it wholesale. Their are those though, that, following the Rethug-Lican demagoguery as a way to get headlines to advance their careers are taking advantage of people’s National pride and emotions.
Besides Jen Psaki’s on task, and she’s brilliant!
I love her. She takes no prisoners, but isn't snarky. It's too bad that she isn't planning to stay in her position, though.
She really reestablished the credibility of the press Sec. her future is so bright. To me Jen Psaki represents integrity, good character, professional, testament to the kind of young people our country still produces. And I’d really like my son to marry a woman like her.
The contrast to Kayleigh McEnany is so stark, yet that harpy is still spouting her nonsensical bile. That she has an audience at all speaks to the mess this country is in.
Yup, The world V CA Hampton chess. Player, Gary Kasporov has said, “ no one frim the Tr$$mp administration will go on accomplish anything of significance after.” I thought that was insightful in 2016 and noted it.
He was correct, if we're talking about positive significance. However, he (and they) have accomplished a boatload of negative, damaging significance, and we're all suffering from that.
It's so frustrating, though, that so many mainstream press sites are piling on Biden. I expect no less from Fox, but the fact that McMaster and others are being afford so much oxygen is despicable. Today's MSN news is dominated totally by Fox and similar drivel, and of course, there is the ubiquitous Kevin McCarthy and the Rethugs' calls for Tony Blinken's impeachment and enacting the 25th Amendment against Biden.
There
Nina Simone Furiosa! Perfect, Linda, just the right SPIRIT. Nina came to me before Maya. She drew me to her when I guessI wasn't too young to understand. Thank you.
I remember seeing her in concert in Montréal. Formidable.
Today's version is "Florida Goddamn" and Gov. DeathSantis.
Wow. As valid today as it was in 1965.
I just Heard and Watched THIS, for the First time!!!
Wow!!! THANKS💖
OMG. Thank you ❤️ 🙏❤️ New for me. Shedding tears.
Plain speak 100%. Thanks, Linda. So relevant.
This poem makes me think of the newest BLM design for T-shirts, hoodies, and water bottles - a dandelion stem that spells out "black lives matter" topped with a hash inside a heart inside a seed puff just beginning to disperse in the wind. The narrative that accompanies the new design:
Dandelions are often seen as undesirable but it is one of the most resilient plants.
Dandelions die in the winter, though the plant's roots live on underground, all year round.
Dandelions can be seen as flowers or weeds. Something desirable or despised.
Dandelions are often the first flower that people play and interact with as a child.
The dandelion can be a metaphor for the African diaspora, people spread across the world like a dandelion's seeds.
We are the seeds that LIVE | GROW | THRIVE regardless.
https://store.blacklivesmatter.com/dept/apparel?cp=101422_103427
Lanita, Beautiful. You and the dandelions have me between a smile and tears. I was a dandelion fan as a child. It was a bit confusing between weed and flower. Thank you.
That’s the beauty of the dandelion. I always loved the name
Dandy-Lion
I've been thinking that the "Dandelions" might be our salvation. They've persisted over the generations, learned to live with disrespect but not be crushed by it, and never believe they are "less than." We should take a page from their book.
Dandelions promote good health.
https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/dandelion-herb.html
Love, love and diamonds between her warm thighs, Maya Angelou is SAINT of Tolerance and Love. Maya Angelou Is God’s messenger. Maya Angelou Is Love. Who are we?
I felt Angelou was speaking directly to me. “Poetry...is the revelation of a feeling that the poet believes to be interior and personal which the reader recognizes as his [her] own.” Salvatore Quasimodo, as quoted in the NYT. I agree with him in many but not all cases.
What a wonderful reminder, and we will. All the people.
Thank you for this amazing poem. A moment of deep inspiration which temporarily lifts us out of the dire news cycle!
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Up we go, Diane.
Calls up "Rise Up"
https://pin.it/23P2yh8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YapAxPfRyI
Thank you, Fern. As soon as I started to read the words, Still I Rise, I heard Maya's voice reading it. I need this reminder.
Fern - that is so beautiful - bit humorous - and lovely. Sad that I never read much of what she wrote - will change that. Thank you
I love the humor, too, and how alive the poem is.
Yes - full of humanity - as we all should be and most are not. Thanks again.
Thank you, Fern and Maya. Reading these words gave me hope that we'll survive this, and many other challenges.
Incredibly powerful!
Wondrous morning gift!