And Still I Rise

If you only ever read one collection of poems, let it be this one.

My edition was barely 100 pages, and I read a poem a night at first, trying to savour the book as much as possible.

Her prose is vivid. It moves, it breathes, it sings.

Maya Angelou celebrates so many things in this humble little collection. She talks about sexuality, about gender, about race, about poverty. And she does it all in a graceful way.

She taught me so much about being present, about being in the moment and about myself.

I cried reading more than one of her poems, and wondered how someone could create something so beautiful with so few words.

My only regret is I didn't read this book sooner.

Poetry. You know those books or genres or classics or - fill in the blank here - that you always feel like you *should* read more of, but don't? Poetry is my "fill in the blank" in that category. I generally read one book of poetry for National Poetry Month, and the rest of the year I bemoan my lack of poetry and my general lack of interest in reading it (despite the fact that most of the poetry collections I've chosen to read, I like). Sometimes I'm wowed, other times I'm confused, but always I feel like I should begin any review with the caveat that I don't read much poetry and - despite the fact that I was an English major - I quake in my boots when asked to interpret it.

In this collection, Maya Angelou's poems are strong and vibrant show more and clear - I didn't feel like I needed to pick them apart to interpret them. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with them emotionally the way I imagine one should connect with poetry. Some of them made me sad, but most of them left me feeling like I'd missed something, that I didn't get it in some fundamental way. I loved Angelou's memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. But for some reason, this poetry collection didn't resonate in the same way, and I'm not sure why. show less

'Still I Rise' is primarily about self-respect and confidence. In the poem, Angelou reveals how she will overcome anything through her self-esteem. She knows how nothing can get her down. She will rise to any occasion.

This book is a classic filled with powerful themes and deserves the long-lasting legacy it has, not to mention the strength of the words becomes very evident when the author is able to inspire and re-imagine a new line of poets. If I were to put this author and this book (which is in the poetic work genre) into another section of literature I would label it as deeply relatable because when the content of the book reflects the same struggles the author has been through, it creates a warm embracing feeling to the audience show more (especially those who have had to fight to just exist in the world). show less

Maya Angelou is a fantastic poet. Just reading her poems on the page is like reading the script of a play; you may appreciate it, but you do not understand it. Listening to her read her poetry out loud adds an entire new dimension and power to it, her reading is energetic and stern. When you hear it, you cannot mistake her poetry for that of a typical romantic or political writer. This is something else entirely.

This specific collection didn't hit me universally, some poems I got more out of than others. I can understand how people were drawn to her biographical writings, which probably held onto momentum better than this format. But do not let my rating pull anything away from the accomplishments of one of America's greatest modern show more writers. show less

Maya Angelou's inspirational poem of strength and triumph is here coupled with Diego Rivera's stunning artwork. What else is there to say? This book is moving and powerful, a testament to courage, perseverance, and hope. This slender volume is a very fast read, but it is utterly unforgettable.

I have read these poems before but it was wonderful to hear Angelou say them! While "And Still I Rise" is the most famous, all of the poems in this short collection are worth listening to.

Not going to lie I was underwhelmed. I like working harder for meaning. These poems did not feel like openings of mystery which is I suppose crucial to what I like in poetry. There is a lot of panache in the voice, however. The poem that appealed to me the most was ‘Men,’ whose movement through metaphor was interesting.