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Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

I just love this poem. It is one of my favorites and for a month dedicated to women, I thought it was appropriate.

March is National Women’s History Month and the theme this year is ‘Valiant Women of the Vote’. The theme is to honor the brave women who fought to win suffrage rights for women, and for the women who continue to fight for the voting rights of others. When we exercise our right to vote we become valiant women of the vote. Let us honor the women that fought so hard for us to vote by going out to vote. As most of you know this is an important year to vote.

 International Women’s Day is March 8^th and the theme this year is ‘I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights’.  When it comes to gender equality, there is no  ‘baby boomer’, ‘gen X’, ‘millenniums’ or ‘gen Z’ – we all need to be speaking the same language. We need to be talking about equal pay for equal work. We need to be talking about us having full control of our bodies and having the right to decide whether or not we want to be pregnant. We need to be talking about education and the opportunity to reach our full potential. We need to be talking about not having anyone take advantage of us. We need to be fighting for generation equality.

Every time I recite Phenomenal Woman, I feel so powerful. Do not just read the poem silently in your head but recite the poem. Say it out loud. I promise, you will feel great.