Taylor+Ximines

"A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom" - Robert Frost

"Poetry is the doorway to the soul" - Floria

Ode: Ode to Life Life you bring and take away some of the greatest loves I will ever know. Life, you bring so many pain for only 4 little words. You make and break me everyday, and I am thankful for that. You see Life I understand that all you do is give me one of the greatest test of all The test of faith Life you bring me joy as well as take it away from me. You hurt the ones closest to me and leave me be Or other times it's the complete opposite: You let everyone around me stay peaceful and make me go through hell. Most people would describe you as saying "life's a bitch" but Honey I view you differently. You have the most thruthful promise ever A promise that you have fulfilled since the beginning of time Life, the one and only promise that you give us is death. So this ode is dedicated to you Life, for everything you do or don't do for me.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Sonnet: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Devon went to the park with me today <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">We saw this man with his lovely new wife <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Devon wanted for me to hear him say <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">You are the favorite girl in my life <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">It doesn't matter if your short or tall <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">When I wake up your all I want to see <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Your all I need in the spring or in the fall <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">You have my heart buzzing more than a bee <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">You have my trust my heart and my sweet love <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">You stole my heart so long ago with ease <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Baby you are more peaceful than a dove <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Your needs are all I ever need to please <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">When I wake up I want to hear you snore <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Don't say I love you cause I love you more <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Raised By Poem: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">I was raised by <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Sunday dinner cooking <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Deep frying chicken <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Get out the jerk sauce <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Turn the oven on 350 <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Get the sugar for the kool aid <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Kind of woman. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">I was raised by <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">"Either you in or out" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Don't cry before I give you something to cry about" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Sit still! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">I will knock your eyes out of your head <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Kind of woman. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">I was raised by <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Put God first <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">It's okay to smile <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Education before friends <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">I love you <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Kind of woman. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">The Walk by Taylor Ximines <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">She walks, He walks, They walk <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">holding hands as well as each others' heart <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">The birds singing, sun shining <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Oh! What a lovely spring day. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">She walks, He walks, They walk <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Down a live city block <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Kids playing <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Old people laughing <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Happiness is here <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">She walks, He walks, They walk <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Now FINALLY <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">they have reached their destination <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">The water ice stand <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">The place where <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">their taste buds can fall in love <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Just as they are. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> Statement about my poetry: The way that I choose to write my poetry is different. For me it is easier to have at least one line that is repeated in a stanza and then build each stanza around that line. Repetition is big to me when it comes to writing poetry. In the poems "Raised By" and "The Walk", repetition of lines were used in the first or last lines of the stanzas. I let my poetry just flow from my brain. I don't try to rhyme or make any type of specific poem. I just tell a story but in a poetic story. The biggest inspirations for my poetry are real life events or whatever my mind can come up with at the time. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Maya Angelou's 3 poems: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">**__I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings__** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #f2f2f0; font-family: 'trebuchet ms',tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The free bird leaps on the back of the wind and floats downstream till the <span style="background-color: #f2f2f0; color: #09768a; font-family: 'trebuchet ms',tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|current] <span style="background-color: #f2f2f0; font-family: 'trebuchet ms',tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> ends and dips his wings in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky.

<span style="background-color: #f2f2f0; font-family: 'trebuchet ms',tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">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.

<span style="background-color: #f2f2f0; font-family: 'trebuchet ms',tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The caged bird sings with fearful trill of the things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom

<span style="background-color: #f2f2f0; font-family: 'trebuchet ms',tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">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.

<span style="background-color: #f2f2f0; font-family: 'trebuchet ms',tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">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

<span style="background-color: #f2f2f0; font-family: 'trebuchet ms',tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">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. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Analysis: This poem gives the reader a great scene of why a bird would sing with it being caged up. The poem does this by using imagery, metaphors and having line breaks in certain places. The bird being tied up but still singing. "his wings are clipped and his feet are tied <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">so he opens his throat to sing." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">The way that she describes how the bird is tied up but still sings I got out of this something much bigger than a bird. The rhyme scheme is that some of the lines rhyme but not all of them, or every other one. The word bird is in the beginning of every stanza, and sometimes it is used more than once. The phrase "The caged bird sings" is said all throughout the poem which gave it a dramatic effect and tone. Also to make it dramatic the lines continue to the next line like an enjambment. The language is more contemporary, which makes it easier to read the poem and understand what the poet is trying to say.


 * __Still I Rise__**

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">You may write me down in history <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">With your bitter, twisted lies, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">You may trod me in the very dirt <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">But still, like dust, I'll rise.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Does my sassiness upset you? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Why are you beset with gloom? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Pumping in my living room.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Just like moons and like suns, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">With the certainty of tides, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Just like hopes springing high, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Still I'll rise.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Did you want to see me broken? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Bowed head and lowered eyes? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Shoulders falling down like teardrops. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Weakened by my soulful cries.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Does my haughtiness offend you? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Don't you take it awful hard <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Diggin' in my own back yard.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">You may shoot me with your words, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">You may cut me with your eyes, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">You may kill me with your hatefulness, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">But still, like air, I'll rise.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Does my sexiness upset you? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Does it come as a surprise <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">That I dance like I've got diamonds <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">At the meeting of my thighs?

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Out of the huts of history's shame <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I rise <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Up from a past that's rooted in pain <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I rise <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Leaving behind nights of terror and fear <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I rise <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I rise <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Bringing the <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #005d93; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[|gifts] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> that my ancestors gave, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I am the dream and the hope of the slave. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I rise <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I rise <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I rise.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Analysis:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">In the poem "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou, the poem uses language and imagery in order to let the reader understand that no matter what the poet is still going to rise. This poem addresses a "you", the "you in this poem would be whoever is trying to bring her down. The rhyme scheme is that the second line in every stanza starts a rhyme scene with fourth line down. The phrase "I rise" is repeated heavily. The poem is written with sentences and questions within each stanza.Every stanza has about 4-5 lines except for the very last one with has much more. She used end-stopped lines. This makes me read the poem more as a story then a poem.This poem is also contemporary, she writes it as a normal person would talk, and her doing this makes the poem much easier to read and comprehend. The tone of this poem is confident and determined. I say this because the metaphors and the way they questions were put in the poem made it seem as though whoever were reading this would have to do it with confidence. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">"You may write me down in history <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">With your bitter, twisted lies, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">You may trod me in the very dirt <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">But still, like dust, I'll rise." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">This image is a part of a metaphor. For me, this made the poem more interesting, and it pretty much set the tone of it. The metaphors that are in here helped the imagery and language to stand out.


 * __Phenomenal Women__**

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">But when I start to tell them, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">They think I'm telling lies. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I say, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It's in the reach of my arms <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The span of my hips, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The stride of my step, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The curl of my lips. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I'm a woman <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Phenomenally. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Phenomenal woman, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">That's me.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I walk into a room <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Just as cool as you please, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">And to a man, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The fellows stand or <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Fall down on their knees. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Then they swarm around me, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A hive of honey bees. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I say, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It's the fire in my eyes, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">And the flash of my teeth, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The swing in my waist, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">And the joy in my feet. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I'm a woman <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Phenomenally. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Phenomenal woman, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">That's me.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Men themselves have wondered <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">What they see in me. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">They try so much <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">But they can't touch <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">My inner mystery. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When I try to show them <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">They say they still can't see. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I say, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It's in the arch of my back, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The sun of my smile, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The ride of my breasts, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The grace of my style. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I'm a woman

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Phenomenally. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Phenomenal woman, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">That's me.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Now you understand <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Just why my head's not bowed. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I don't shout or jump about <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Or have to talk real loud. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When you see me passing <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It ought to make you proud. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I say, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It's in the click of my heels, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The bend of my hair, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">the palm of my hand, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The need of my care, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">'Cause I'm a woman <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Phenomenally. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Phenomenal woman, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">That's me.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Analysis:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">This poem gives the reader a feeling of confidence, through the many scenes and metaphors that Angelou uses. She helps to show us what a "phenomenal woman" is by doing this. As far as the rhyme scene in the poem goes. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Sometimes 2 lines in a row will rhyme and at other times every other line will rhyme. Most of the stanzas are the same length except for the 4th one, it is shorter. The words phenomenal and phenomenally are repeated and there are sentences within stanzas and commas also.Most of the lines are the same length except for in the 4th stanza. There are commas breaking up the lines. It makes me read the poem like a story. The poem is not really "formal". It is more contemporary and is easy for me to follow along. The tone of this poem seems confident and sassy to me. I say this because the language in the poem makes her seem this way.An image that stood up to me is <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">"I walk into a room

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Just as cool as you please,

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">And to a man,

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">The fellows stand or

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Fall down on their knees." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">What this scene in the poem provides is a picture of a beautiful and powerful woman coming into a room and all eyes are on her.