RIP Maya Angelou

Many words were written for Maya Angelou, to honour her after her death. 

I'd rather share some of her own words.

As she said "My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."

I hope we all manage to thrive in our lives with passion, compassion, humor and style like she did.

I think that the poem "Caged Bird" can be a paradigmatic example of her belief that even though we cannot control what happens to us  we can still choose not to be reduced by negative situations. 

 

Caged Bird

By Maya Angelou 1928–2014

A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind   

and floats downstream   

till the current ends

and dips his wing

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and   

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   

of things unknown   

but longed for still   

and his tune is heard   

on the distant hill   

for the caged bird   

sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn

and he names the sky his own

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams   

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream   

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied   

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   

of things unknown   

but longed for still   

and his tune is heard   

on the distant hill   

for the caged bird   

sings of freedom.