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.
