Still I Rise
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.
-Maya Angelou
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.
-Maya Angelou
My Observations
Title: The title foreshadows one's ability to overcome negative conflicts and outside sources. One will "rise" against what ever roadblock is in the way keeping him/her/it from completing their task at hand.
Paraphrase: This poem is spoken from a strong-hearted woman's standpoint, specifically Angelou's personal standpoint. She is speaking to her audience about how she overcame personal obstacles (such as racism, sexism, and criticism) with grace and pride. She refers "you" as her oppressors, and "I" as herself. She shows respectful pride in her gender, her race, and herself because of the confidence shown in her writing.
Connotation: The phrases “I rise” and “Still I rise” are used repetitively throughout the poem to show that the speaker continues to overcome oppressive people and situations. There is a common use of similes and metaphors in which Angelou's imagery is conveyed. For example, "I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,/Welling and swelling I bear in the tide" (33-34), she compares herself to a powerful, relentless source which will continue to build up in it's strength, closing in on the source of sand on shore (aka oppressors) preventing the ocean from extending further. Since Angelou's poetry is more narrative, she interacts with her audience as she talks about the ups and downs of her past.
Attitude: Considering Angelou is the speaker as well as the writer of this poem, she sets a tone of sureness, pride, and grace. She portrays her Civil Rights Activist image clearly in this poem, not letting her color and race hold her back.
Shifts: The poem begins with simple drama escalating into heart-heavy trauma. Angelou's use of metaphors and similes perfectly convey imagery of her true, deep feelings and insights. The use of rhyme flows smoothly throughout the poem, with the occasional repeated phrases "I rise" and "Still I rise".
Title (again): My recent prediction was generally correct; the title foreshadows Angelou's ability to overcome negative outside sources and "rise" against them.
Theme: The overall message of Angelou's poem is to "rise" against oppressors preventing who you are, who you want to be, and what you want to do in life. Grace as well as confidence, strength, and pride in yourself is needed to accomplish this task at hand, to overcome negative outside sources.
Paraphrase: This poem is spoken from a strong-hearted woman's standpoint, specifically Angelou's personal standpoint. She is speaking to her audience about how she overcame personal obstacles (such as racism, sexism, and criticism) with grace and pride. She refers "you" as her oppressors, and "I" as herself. She shows respectful pride in her gender, her race, and herself because of the confidence shown in her writing.
Connotation: The phrases “I rise” and “Still I rise” are used repetitively throughout the poem to show that the speaker continues to overcome oppressive people and situations. There is a common use of similes and metaphors in which Angelou's imagery is conveyed. For example, "I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,/Welling and swelling I bear in the tide" (33-34), she compares herself to a powerful, relentless source which will continue to build up in it's strength, closing in on the source of sand on shore (aka oppressors) preventing the ocean from extending further. Since Angelou's poetry is more narrative, she interacts with her audience as she talks about the ups and downs of her past.
Attitude: Considering Angelou is the speaker as well as the writer of this poem, she sets a tone of sureness, pride, and grace. She portrays her Civil Rights Activist image clearly in this poem, not letting her color and race hold her back.
Shifts: The poem begins with simple drama escalating into heart-heavy trauma. Angelou's use of metaphors and similes perfectly convey imagery of her true, deep feelings and insights. The use of rhyme flows smoothly throughout the poem, with the occasional repeated phrases "I rise" and "Still I rise".
Title (again): My recent prediction was generally correct; the title foreshadows Angelou's ability to overcome negative outside sources and "rise" against them.
Theme: The overall message of Angelou's poem is to "rise" against oppressors preventing who you are, who you want to be, and what you want to do in life. Grace as well as confidence, strength, and pride in yourself is needed to accomplish this task at hand, to overcome negative outside sources.