Still I Rise Poem by Maya Angelou

Still I Rise

Rating: 4.4


You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread 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 back yard.

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.

Still I Rise
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Karina Santiago 05 February 2013

I love this poem! I see it as motivation and read it whenever I'm upset. It reminds me that I'm in control of my own feelings and that I will only recieve respect if I respect myself. I am using this poem in an essay for my literature class as one of Maya Angelou's best poetry works (in my opinion) .

197 41 Reply
Kdkddn 09 June 2022

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20 8
Tanveer Singh 06 June 2022

There is something.. that realise that what actually we are...

14 3
Anant Jain 03 January 2013

The Poem which kills limitless frustrations and Make me smile everytime i read it...... :)

160 38 Reply
Dawn Lambert 31 December 2012

I remember I had to memorize this in third grade I will, always love this poem

133 37 Reply
Maria Goodison 30 October 2023

love this Maya so in depth with emotions

0 0 Reply
Suindu De 02 October 2023

Out of all the ripples falling into my mind, through the audacity of the gods own opportunity to proverbial sweetness, we would be there to staggering mind whenence all goes in vein, all stiffness goes viral to our mind, mundane but godly helps us out, your poem is likewise.

1 0 Reply
Paul Adebayo 05 August 2023

A really lovely poem

0 0 Reply
JOHN THE GIFTED HANDS 21 May 2023

Wow beautiful, I love this poem!

3 1 Reply
Ana Rios 18 May 2023

I love this poem. The title is so motivating! Maya uses the literary techniques very well. For example

3 1 Reply
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