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Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise: The Golden Shovel

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Albany chapter.

The popular kids in school won’t be remembered in history

Through the years, all they spoke were lies

Covered their real selves in dirt 

And there will be no one there to help them rise. 

 

Did you listen to me as I listen to you?

Is there sunlight, or is the sky gloom?

Because I’ve never seen such a thing end well

There’s a better view in my room

A better view of the sun

With water waves and ocean tides

That flow and are straight high

But still rise.

 

Do these popular kids feel broken?

Why are they covering their eyes?

Wipe the teardrops

I know everyone cries.

 

What is wrong with you?

Is your life that hard?

What makes you think it’s better than mine?

Do you see flowers in my backyard?

 

You think you can hurt me with your words

But look into my eyes 

I can feel the hatefulness

From you to me as I rise.

 

Once again, do I upset you?

Did my presence come as a surprise?

This hard, well-rounded diamond

With thick full thighs

This is such a shame 

I rise. 

And you are in so much pain

I rise. 

And this gap between us is wide 

Will we ever get over this tide?

 

You can’t smell my fear

When I rise. 

My head is clear

When I rise. 

After all the chances I gave

When I rise. 

You treated me like your slave

Before I rose.

I have risen. 

I rise.

My name is Omni Cierra Latimer. I am 23 years old. I am a Leo. My passion is writing and I want to work for a blog in the future.
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