The Complete Collected Poems

I have long admired Ms. Angelou and this anthology of her poems did not disappoint. All her writing is so very personal that you feel you really know a large part of her personally. I recomment this volume highly to anyone who has only read her prose.

I have been wanting this book for a long time..... now I have it. She (Angelou) has inspired me for years now, and it is good to be able to read some of my favorite poetry to my own daughter. As this was a used book, it was in fantastic condition, and the inscription on the front was heartwarming. I can only hope that the person who received this book before me enjoyed it as much. Thanks for the very prompt service.

This book of her collected poetry stands up for itself. Angelou was a gifted writer as well as a wonderfully fascinating black woman. Her legacy in words and deeds will certainly live on to inform and inspire future generations. I am a great fan of her work and therefore I'm very pleased with this collection of poetry.

Dr. Maya Angelou -- a true inspiration and all around great person. All of her poems are wonderful so when I saw this I knew I had to get it, one could call it an impulse buy. I am glad I did, I can't wait to dive into this...

What can I say, what an awesome book. I shared several poems to different people, and different ages. Everyone had a wonderful comment each time I read a poem. The world had a great pearl in Maya Angelou. She effected many people....she touched my life.

Loved her poetry. A voice of the 20th century. Book was in very good condition but it has a musty smell to it. I enjoyed this. I really like books at a reasonable cost as I explore the world of poetry.

The most beautiful poems that go straight to the heart. That is because they are so honest, without any hypocrisy and yet able to see the wonder of human life with love and compassion. Also there is an ability to laugh at the human dilemmas that is endearing and loving.

Maya Angelou has been one of my favorite poets since nine years old. I gave this book as a gift to a professor and she loved it. It has a gorgeous colorful cover and is very good as a centerpiece for a table as well. It is a beautiful looking book with great poems inside.

After following the Olympics ardently . . . and the beautiful reading of her poem throughout . . . this poem and the poetry for Ms. Angelou stuck a deep chord for a close friend's heart and he stated he would like to have a copy of her poetry. It became a best-birthday present and for this I am very thankful.

Maya pours out her soul with some of her best poetry she wrote in her life. I enjoyed her poetry which is like no other a great deal, I have been reading many of the great classic poets of history in English, Her will stand up there with the greats from other ages I just really loved her writing that transcends color and sexual barriers Her work could be read by anyone and have them get something from it.

A powerful collection which paints pictures with words ( with warmth and love) documenting the pain and joy of an African-American living in America. I purchased this because I love Miss Angelou's work. She expresses exactly what has been experienced in many situations throughout the ages... a cultural and historical documentation!!!

po·et·ry. [ˈpōətrē]

NOUN

1.literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature:

You don't have to like it. It's for the people that it speaks to, and if it doesn't speak to you, find something that does. To say it wasn't my cup of tea is one thing, but to declare something bad because it wasn't done to your specifications says that you don't have the soul for art. You don't have the creativity mind to understand subjectivity. Art is subjective.

I personally love many if not most of these poems. Some of them I connected with right away and others didn't carry meaning until I was older. There are even some that were not for me, but they were no less art than the ones that did.

I read The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou several years ago and loved it so much that I often pull it off my shelf and peruse the contents. Sometimes I open it randomly and read whatever page I land on. Other times, I seek out a poem that has taken root in my thoughts for one reason or another. The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou has become a book I turn to for inspiration, encouragement, enlightenment, and education. Angelou's poems speak to the existence we all share on this planet and her words resonate across the artificial barriers we draw between us. When she writes about us all being part of the "Human Family", she pushes us to see beyond the stereotypes and see how much we all have in common. When she writes about being a "Phenomenal Woman", she reminds us all that we have the power to embrace our own phenomenal selves. The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou includes many poems that speak to her life experience and her observations in language that is both lyrical and accessible.

The themes in Maya Angelou's poems range from pain to pleasure, from love to loss, and from freedom to oppression. The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou allows the reader to travel down this road of emotions with Angelou and see straight into the soul of the woman who is considered one of America's greatest living poets. However, this book is not for those who are "sitting on the fence" about Angelou's work. Instead, this book will not only be loved by those who already love Angelou's poetry, but will prove to be a treasured possession. The collection offers the reader Angelou's famous poems such as "Still I Rise" and "Phenomenal Woman," which would alone be worth the price of the book and more, but also offers all her beautiful poems. This includes less famous but equally beautiful poems such as "Poor Girl" and "Is Love."

"Poor Girl" shows the pain of betrayal as well as a level-headed knowledge that the betrayer will again betray. This poem is so beautiful because it demonstrates that not all women blame the "other woman" but instead shows that the speaker of the poem knows how the "other woman" feels and will feel when she is betrayed by the same man as the speaker. The speaker of this woman is a strong, independent woman who refuses to beg the man to stay or be faithful to her, but instead knows that she cannot say anything to the man to make him stop or to the woman to make her see that he will hurt her too. This portrayal of independent women is one of the reason's Angelou has proven to be so inspiring and popular to contemporary women.

"Is Love" shows a deeper dimension to Angelou's poetry as well. The poem shows the difficulty that lies between life and death and questions why we even bother. Instead of providing the answer to that question, Angelou leaves the decision to the reader. Yes, perhaps it is love that pushes us through life, but she does not give us that as an answer because she acknowledges that she cannot know the answer herself, although she does make an attempt with the statement-like title, "Is Love."
This collection of poetry is a wealth of beauty and knowledge that will be treasured by Angelou fans everywhere. However, one must be aware that the poetry within the pages is not all flowers and sunshine, but instead depicts real pain as in "Men."

A great collectable from America's most beloved poet for the mature reader. Considered a mother of contemporary poetry, the book is well organized by parts, titles, and subtitles which makes it easier for any reader. Her finest works are captured in this book. She concludes the book with her most famed standing ovation work which was done at President Clinton's inaguration "On the Pulse of the Morning". A must have for lovers of poetry!

Stone Michaels, Author of Defining Atlas

Favorites moments for me include reading Maya Angelou and recalling her in Portland's Heathman Hotel Lounge listening to Dave Frishberg play the piano. She greeted everyone behind the counter with a smile and a few words. Her poetry collection is as personal and memorable for me.

<i>Mothering Blackness, Touch Me Life-Not Softly, And I Still Rise, Caged Bird, I Shall Not Be Moved, Human Family, Equality, Many and More, Grandmothers</i>.

Growing up as a Black American in the inner city I was never exposed to the talents of Black poets until I had the fortune of reading Maya Angelou's poem "Equality" in a multicultural literature course in college. I felt shame that I actually missed out on the opportunity to read such works when I was a young child. I always dreamed of a way out of the ghetto but dreams are what they are when one is trapped by reality. Maya Angelou's poems strike at the heart of the black consciousness. She raises the umbrella of truth in regards to the Black's struggle for voice and acknowledgement. She captivated my heart and soul and awakened my desire to dream again. All that is presumed lost is lost if one believes that dreams never come true. I have a new found faith in recognizing the special gift that the Black race gives to the culture of America. Even though history has presented a different picture we as Black folk understand and are driven with determined speed to undo the undone, we only ask to be recognized, or as Maya Angelou states, "Take the blinders from your vision take the padding from your ears, and confess you've heard me crying, and admit you've seen my tears" (233). God Bless!

I've often wondered how a white woman raised in the North could bond so uniquely with a Southern black woman born in a wholly different generation. I believe there are two primary reasons. Firstly, Ms. Angelou allows me a glimpse of her suffering as well as her triumph. Though her experiences may differ from mine, her struggle with oppression and her desperate need for freedom are universal. Secondly, I long to focus on the beauty of life without hiding from the darkness. Ms. Angelou declares these with both power and poise. I never tire of indulging in the very human self she expresses.

I only write this because I love this author more than any other and feel the need to defend this book from the critics who wrote the other reviews on it. I feel that poetry is what you make of it. If you can relate to what the poet is saying, what does it matter if they didn't follow specific guidelines that universities try to teach people who probably lack the free-form. Which is what I consider this book. Free-form poetry. So, yes,if you're only reading the book for an assignment or trying to analyze it into a specific form of poetry, you might be disappointed. However, if you are reading it in leisure or to connect with someone who can beautifully express some of our emotions and events of life, you won't be disappointed. That is if you can relate to it. As with all poetry, it will mean more to you if you can understand where the poet is coming from and connect that with your own emotions and personal experiences. From the time that I picked up this book over a decade ago, I have loved it! I hardly ever take the time to go back and re-read anything. I figure, once read, the most important of the knowledge is there and to move on, but I have read and re-read this book more times than I can remember! For me, it's full of emotion. I feel that in it's free-form, it's beautifully written. I could only ever hope to create a book as outstanding as this one, and I often compare my own free-form to hers.Once again, it's an outstanding book if you can relate to it.

Maya Angelou has been one of my greatest inspirations since the seventh grade. I am now a rising senior in high school and I aspire to be a poet and writer. She is, by far, one of the most influential, strongest, and inspiring Black woman in the works of literature. Many of her poems I take reference to when doing an English assignment because she takes hold of many issues facing our people, especially women of even all colors. I hope to meet her some day but until that some day comes I will continue to be a big fan of hers and let her words echo through my mind and felt in my heart. I recommend everyone to read her work for it is truly inspirational.

I have loved Ms. Maya Angelou's poetry over these many years! Now that I am contemplating downsizing and moving from my larger house to a condo, having her collected poetry to date in one accessible and convenient place on my Kindle will provide me with additional years of inspiration and joy!

Maya Angelou has much wisdom and strength to share as she views life with a perspecive that I identify with. Her death brought my attention anew to her poetry. Pursuing it diligently and anew, readubg ut has increased my understanding of a woman's heart. I am a woman and her sharing relates specifically how to deal with emotions a woman has, universally.

Imagine. . .the heat and humidity are 96 degrees. There is not even a hint of a breeze and the sun continues to glare down upon the land. No one is moving this afternoon. You are sitting in a white, rattan chair on the veranda, sipping sweet tea and lazily fanning yourself with a magazine. There is some shade from the gargantuan, old magnolia tree in the front yard and the smell of those flowers are as sweet as the tea. In your lap is a copy of "The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou".

Some poems make you gently chuckle, some make you sad, all make you think. But, as you read Dr. Angelou's work, you feel safe in her bossom. Women will find comfort in the fact that now they know that another person understands all the intracacies of the life of a woman. Men who are game to enter this world and try to understand, should also explore her words.

Read, absorb, feel, be inspired by Dr. Maya Angelou's poetry.

Linda Langan Powell, author, "The Old Cypress Tree".

Everyone who appreciates fine American poetry should read "The Complete Collected poems of Maya Angelou".

The best living poet of our time, Maya Angelou is just phenomenal. Her work ranges between grit and wit, overcoming obstacles, and observances of life. Her words moved me to tears as I read this volume, and caused me to pause often to reflect on her ideas.

My personal favorites are "Caged Bird", "Reverses", and "Still, I Rise".

I can't say I love all the poems, but overall, this is a fantastic collection with a ton of great poems. It's my first reading of Maya Angelou and I'm impressed. I would describe this poetry as heartfelt, energetic, and plunky. Most of it is gently rhyming, though there is free verse too. I must also add that this edition is particularly attractive and well designed, with a simple but attractive layout.

Maya Angelou's words absolutely captivate me throughout the series. Each poem opens a new door but reliterate the themes of oppression, struggle, freedom, and so much more. Two particular favorite short poems are The Lesson and Contemporary Announcement.
Maya Angelou's continuous effort to live life through music, through dance, through writing reflects in The Lesson. Even though the poem seems rather morbid through the description of "rotting flesh and worms" "old tombs", "veins collapse", in the end it emphasizes the importance of living life and enjoying life until the last breath. So the lesson to be learned from "The Lesson" is to love life and live life.
Maya Angelou's past reflects in most of her poems. In "Contemporary Announcement", she portrayed the harshness of living from day to day in the ghettos. The protagonist lives from day to day, from paycheck to paycheck, in its sadness and happiness. When the character has money, the family join together in happiness with "cook the cow" and "ring the big bells". And when there is no money, the family must live in darkness and in fear, that they must "hold your breath" and "take my heart in your hand." Overall, the poem portrays the harshness of the working class which experienced by 80% of Americans.

Mr. James Baldwin's review paints Maya's collection like an oriental painter. With just a few stokes of simpilicty, he captures the background and soul of Ms. Angelo's poetry. I, on the other hand, stare and flip through the book to feed a hunger like standing before my refrigerator late at night. I know I want something, but I am not sure what it is. The difference is no matter what I select to read and digest from Maya's extensive collection, I am satisfied.

This is a wonderful collection of poetry from Maya Angelou. There are many poems that I have never heard before. I read a few every day. There are only a few books that I read for inspiration, motivation and a view of the human condition. This has become one of them.

Angelou has the capacity to convey our most inner and innate identity. Through her award-winning poetry, she uses words to draw out the feelings within our souls that are common to all people on this planet. By her literary magic, she urges the reader to let his differences dissolve and celebrate the human race as a whole. All of this is accopmlished with a candor, eloquence, and style which is all her own. Bravo, Professor Angelou.

siempre he creido que los poemas deben ser rimados y por eso no me gustan los versos blancos, los desatinos poeticos de la libre versificacion. Maya Angelou presenta rima y verso, sus poemas son cantables, recitables, tienen gracia y ritmo y cierto estilo que parece ser caracteristico de los afroamericanos, sus poemas me encantaron todos. y por favor otra cosa, a ella hay que leerla en su idioma. la poesia se pierde en las traducciones, sino traten de leer a neruda en ingles para que vean que desastre.. LUIS MENDEZ [email protected]

A poem for every occasion, a poem for every feeling. Ms. Angelou's rich anthology has been with me through both difficult and uplifting moments in my personal past in the past five years. With her special insights on life, gathered through the years on her journeys from America to Africa and nearly everywhere in between, she brings a wealth of understanding to the simplicities of life, the struggles and beauty of being a woman, of pushing on through both adversity and triumph. Bless you Ms. Maya and thank you.. your work continually reminds me that still.... I rise.

I looked back at some of the customer reviews of Maya's collected verse volume, and was astonished to find a one star rating by someone who simply doesn't understand the complexity within the simplicity. I would imagine this person to be well educated, intellectual, and with much of their ego invested in their intelligence. They missed the mark-- make that the whole target with that misguided review. The words Miss Angelou chooses are for the versions of her truth, and she comes from the simplest place of all-- the heart. In order to express the complexities of the heart, one must return to the simplicity of the child, and the utmost economy of words. The poems of Maya Angelou are brilliant and that customer can go take a long walk on a short pier.

Dr. Angelou represents the very best of African genius and culture. Her words are our words, and her poems are like wings of freedom as we struggle in exile.
This collection has all of Dr. Angelou's poems in one volume, so it is a must-have reference for every African-IN-America family.
I recommend all of her works- her autobiographies, her cookbook, but her poems are her greatest gift. If you have never read them, prepare to be freed.

Mrs. Angelou has written these poems all of her life, to have all of her publications in one book is absolutely wonderful! I have always loved Maya, as she worked with Martin Luther King Jr. (although I wasn't born yet, but studied it) was a great speaker, and up to the President Clinton's innagration service, she has always bee what I call PERFECT!! The poems are very moving, I recommend this to EVERYONE alive!!!

I unfortunately only know a few poems by Maya Angelou; plus her book I know why the caged bird sings. I think she is the best writer ever born in this world and 'Phenomenal Woman' is my all time favorite poem. Anyone who cares about the history of African-American women should read Maya. And every woman who is proud to be a woman should read her poetry. You will find a big part of yourself in it.

I'll admit that I didn't understand every poem in the book, but I still loved it. A lot of her poems display her ruthless determination and a type of self-confidence that I've never seen before. My favorite poems in this book were "Still I Rise" and Phenomenal Woman". Both inspired me to basically believe in myself, never give up, and be comfortable with who I am. This might sound kind of cliche, but I can't really explain it without ruining it by telling you what the poems are about. Other poems in this book that I enjoyed were "In a Time", "A Type of Love Some Say", and MANY others. They all tell of real situations in a very raw way. Nothing is sugar coated and this is something that kept me interested. Overall the book was great because even if I didn't understand every poem that was in it, I still came away from it with a lot.

I also have a book of poems called the "Love Poems" and other poems books I write. I also have a website at projectdreamsbooksdotcom. If you want to check it out go head. A lot of people compare me to maya angelou when I write poems so I need help getting feed back from the readers

This is definitely one of my fav Maya Angelou books I ever read. I recommend this book highly.

I breezed through this one, and I have to say her autobiographies are far superior to her poems. I didn't even have the heart to understand most of them. The style is not exactly what I can call "delicious". I'm just not a fan of Maya when it comes to poetry. BUT I have to say I enjoyed the poems in "I Shall not be Moved". They just contained a different flavor in them. One can easily tell that she had grown when she wrote these ones. (I'm assuming it's her latest of all the other poetry books). Or maybe she just put more effort into it, or perhaps just decided to use a different style. I liked "On the Pulse of Morning" as well.

words don't even begin to describe her genius with words and thoughts.the bottom line is you either have it or you don't and she has that it.her words are timeless and have an impact on everyday life and events.this book reflects moods× but speak volumes of the world around.for anyone wondering who is a great poet this is a great start.

Review of Maya Angelou's : The Complete Collection of Poems by Maya Angelou.
This is a "got-to-have" for anyone interested in the poetic genius of the famous Poet. The book gives you a chance to look back in her early writings and see how she moves you as she advanced in her skills. I rather enjoyed the book because it inspires me to write my own poetry. I have given very nice books of poetry as Christmas gifts to people I know she could awaken their desires to succeed. This particular reference has all the best of Maya and you can feel the poems affect you daily. I have given this book a 5 star rating because it's so enjoyable.

I was given this book as a Christmas present and have gone back to it often. My favorite poem is "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" - I find myself going back to this one time and again. Maya Angelou proves herself as one of the outstanding comtemporary poets today by offering poetry that anyone, regardless of background, color, or creed, can find inspire in. Every woman should have a copy of this book.

Working in a library gives me a chance to read some of my favorite authors. Maya Angelou is one of my favorites and
she truly is PHENOMENAL!! I like this particular book because
it contains all of her poems including "Phenomenal Women." I live and work in a suburb of Chicago Illinois so I have had a
chance to hear her read this particular poem on Oprah Winfrey's
program. I would urge anyone to buy a copy of this book and enjoy the writing of a very wonderful and phenomenal woman,Dr.Maya Angelou.If you like honest down to earth poetry then The Complete
Collected Poems of Maya Angelou is just the book you're looking
for.

Maya Angelou's poems are wonderful. You can understand and grasp her meaning while she is not afraid to tell it like it is. Her poetry speaks to the heart of every woman no matter the race. When you read her poems you are not merely reading words but you feel the words and are surrounded by their message. I only wished I could have studied her poetry in high school and college. She is truly magnificent!

I never really was interested in Maya Angelou until I read this book. This book of poetry is absolutely amazing. She writes about everything from high society to slaves in the cotton fields. Maya Angelou is certainly a great poet and she really touched my heart with her poetry. My favorite yet is "Phenomenal Woman". It's the best book I've read in ages!!

This poem gives you the strength to deal with lifes situations when being talked down and trampled on by others.I't gives you hope and the will to rise above all situations that we may go through in life.I rise!
Cassandra Dillon
Author of "Reality Poems".

I'm a fan of Maya Angelou autobiographical novels and expected to be a fan of her poetry as well. I'm not. I thought the poems trite, cliched, and just plain bad, lazy poetry. I felt. . .cheated. Needless to say, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.

This was a wonderful book, in which all the poems seem to tell a story, that nearly everyone has been through at one time in their life. Maya Angelou has written exactly what is on her mind, clearly, and simply creating a portrait of her past. Though many of the poems have to do with the experience of being black, I would recommend this book to anyone.

I bought one for me and one as a gift, but the pages were uneven and the binding fragile with a dented cover on one of the two. For the price, I expected a sturdier book. I wonder if I just got defective ones. I've seen poorly made books sold at outlet bookstores. The two I received wouldn't last long before they fell apart.

I'm a huge fan of her work, so I'll be hitting the bookstores ASAP to find sturdier versions of the same collection.

I was raised to believe that if you can't say something nice about someone you shouldn't say anything at all, so whenever I deliver up a negative review on someone's work, I feel slightly guilty. That admitted, well, basically I'll only offer this: I did not care for Ms. Angelou's poetry very much. However, were I to continue on with this review, I might also add that I failed to discern her talent or feel much of a personal tie to her cultural awareness or her message. I might even conclude (were I not stopping at what I wrote up above) by confessing that even the range of her vocabulary (or should I say the lack of a range) failed to impress me. I don't think Maya Angelou deserves the high praise she gets on an almost universal level and have my own opinion as to why she receives so much of it.

Just my view...

Maya Angelou is an expert at writing easily remembered catchphrases and proverbial tidbits that have all the taste of wisdom with half the calories. She fills her fans with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, she inspires them, she makes them feel as if she speaks The Truth. In other words, she's great at writing motivational proverbs. She is not, however, a poet. Not even close. She displays virtually no poetic craft and shows no real skill at compression, imagery, figurative language, and metaphor, to name a few tools that make a piece of writing a poem. At best, this collection would bore the pants off of any serious reader of poetry. At worst, it will make them want to gouge their eyes out with a pair of #6 knitting needles. If you think this is poetry, you haven't read any poetry yet.