You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you? Don’t you take it awful hard ‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines Diggin’ in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I’ve got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise I rise I rise.
mentalnotes1 
Mental, this is my favorite poem by Maya.
❤ I'm so glad you posted this. It could not come at a better time for me, sister.
MINES TOOOO (: YA KNOW IT IS A FUNNY THING, SOME PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE TO SEE YOU LEAVE THE PAST IN THE PAST. TO SEE YOU SMILING, HAPPY, JOYOUS AND FREE, IT UPSETS THEM IN SOME WAY. ALMOST AS IF THEY ARE OFFENDED BY MY HAPPINESS. I LOVE THIS POEM BECAUSE SHE TALKS ABOUT THOSE KIND OF PEOPLE. OOPS AND I THINK I SPELLED HER NAME WRONG, OH MY, GOTTA CHANGE THAT,,,IDK (:
Maya. 😉
It’s ok. I’m not a champion speller, either.
(Once, a date told me he decided to go out with me because I told him I couldn’t spell…lol….hello, HUGE red flag!
HAAAA, YOU ARE FUNNY GIRL (:
Reblogged this on Shackled and Crowned.
Such an awesome reminder to not let the opinions of others define us. To “rise ” above the difficulties that come our way! Had not heard this before but I love it. Thanks for sharing.
WOW, YOUR FIRST TIME READING “STILL I RISE” YOU HAVE GOT TO GET OUT MORE OFTEN SIR (:
So so powerful. Sent chills down my spine.
SHE IS A POWERFUL WOMAN,,,
It’s a great poem. I read it a while back. In my mind I got the oil wells pumping in the living room and the diamonds at the meeting of the thighs mixed up. I guess it doesn’t matter. It still sounds good even when jumbled.
Those are my favorite parts (: