Kat’s Favorite Quotes and Poems from Maya Angelou

With the news of the passing of Maya Angelou, I find myself remembering the first time that I read her work. She was an amazingly talented poet and she will be missed.

I have always loved poetry. When I was younger I would write. It was never anything that would be worthy of publishing but it was an escape of sorts for me from the world that I was living in - the world at home. I was an outsider when I was younger, and poetry was a sweet escape. I saw the news today, and my heart sank. Maya Angelou has died at the age of 86. Today is a sad day... I wanted to share a few of my favorite poems and quotes from her.

The Lesson

I keep on dying again.
Veins collapse, opening like the
Small fists of sleeping
Children.
Memory of old tombs,
Rotting flesh and worms do
Not convince me against
The challenge. The years
And cold defeat live deep in
Lines along my face.
They dull my eyes, yet
I keep on dying,
Because I love to live.

 

Insomniac

There are some nights when
sleep plays coy,
aloof and disdainful.
And all the wiles
that I employ to win
its service to my side
are useless as wounded pride,
and much more painful.

This particular quote has always rang true to me:

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

 

This, I believe, is an important life lesson:

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

 

And on finding beauty in the world around us:

Find a beautiful piece of art. If you fall in love with Van Gogh or Matisse or John Oliver Killens, or if you fall love with the music of Coltrane, the music of Aretha Franklin, or the music of Chopin - find some beautiful art and admire it, and realize that that was created by human beings just like you, no more human, no less.

 

Maya's thoughts on fashion and aging:

The most important thing I can tell you about aging is this: If you really feel that you want to have an off-the-shoulder blouse and some big beads and thong sandals and a dirndl skirt and a magnolia in your hair, do it. Even if you're wrinkled.

 

Today I mourn the loss of one of the worlds most profound women. She was a true blessing.
♥ Kat