Phenomenal Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women

The book was in OK condition.. But it was a gift from someone....with a message from the giver...so I will never think of the book as mine because it has someone else name in it..shame on the person for selling their gift.

This is by far one of my favorite girlfriend & sister gifts. Written by world-renowned author, Maya Angelou, this short rhyme gets to the heart of any woman's individuality and celebrates the phenomenal differences in all of us. Phenomenal Woman is an anthem of women's strength in their own womanhood. The message resonates with women everywhere. "Look at me!" it says quite plainly. "I am beautiful in my strength, in whatever shape that is mine." Black, White, Asian, Hispanic... the message is applicable to all of us who are phenomenal woman.

I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Buy a copy for all the phenomenal women in your life! Personalize a message in the inside cover. They'll cherish it for years to come.

A simple, quick read. But there is nothing simple or quick about the concepts in these four poems. A celebration of womanhood and an honest look at the history of black women. Thankfully, it doesn't take long to read because you'll want to read it more than once!

Angelou writes with defiance and directness. Her lines have a simplicity and strength. She is writing of her own personal experience as a black woman but also most clearly she is writing of the history, the struggles and sufferings of her people. This is most apparent here in the Grandmother poem in which no matter how difficult the experiences the archetyapal black grandmother endures she stands on her own and refuses to be moved. In another of the poems the defiance is as an expression of her feminine sexuality, of her being phenomenally a woman. In another a working woman attests to the integrity of her own life against the vast show of fraud and wasteful wealth around her.
Angelou writes inspirational poetry in which the power of the feeling and the strength of the conviction capture the reader.

This volume of poetry contains four inspirational and empowering poems for women of all races, religions, backgrounds, and education levels. Maya Angelou is such a wonderful role for all people; men, women, and children. She is not only a best-selling poet and novelist, but she is an educator, actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian. This volume speaks to her extraordinary gift for writing from the heart and lifting the spirit with every graceful word. Each poem in this series is one of inspiration and conviction. They all foster a feeling of pride, confidence, and spirituality.
My personal favorite in this collection is "Still I Rise." I heard this poem for the first time when film and Broadway actress Cicely Tyson visited my college in Murfreesboro, TN back in 2003 and recited it to an auditorium full of hopeful students preparing to tackle the world. That was where my love of Maya Angelou's work began. "Still I Rise" spoke to me as a woman, as a student, and as an American. "Still I Rise" promotes perseverance against life's obstacles, being confident in your own skin and embracing your differences, taking pride in your ancestry, and striving for spiritual richness. She writes in the last two powerful stanzas, "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 in wide/ Welling and swelling I bear in the tide...Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave/ I am the dream and the hope of the slave/ I rise/ I rise/ I rise." This poem is so incredibly inspirational regardless of race, sex, and religion because it is about persevering through obstacles and keeping hope, holding true to yourself and your faith.

The other poems in this collection, "Phenomenal Woman," "Weekend Glory," and "Our Grandmothers" are all rooted with Angelou's wisdom and remarkable gift to inspire. "Phenomenal Woman" is also such a treasure. This poem teaches women to embrace their inner beauty and to have confidence no matter the color of their skin or the shape and size of their bodies. This empowering poem teaches that your most attractive quality others see in you is your confidence. "Men themselves have wondered what they see in me/ They try so much/ But they can't touch/ My inner mystery."

This is a small book, but packs a lot of soul and spirit that transcends beyond race or sex. I highly recommend this amazingly uplifting volume of poetry by Maya Angelou, a truly "phenomenal" woman.

Phenomenal Woman is an outstanding prose by Dr. Maya Angelou. The piece pays tribute to the indomitable spirit of the brave women ... particularly women of color who have been marginalized because of their looks. However, this book is enhanced by art that displays the diversity of these amazing women... and as such, I think it makes a unique gift. It is a gift that tells the women you admire that you honor them in more ways than one. It's an outstanding gift for the women who already are phenomenal... and those well on their way.

I've always been in love with Ms. Angelou's Phenomenal Woman ever since my mentor gifted it to me and I am fortunate to do the same to someone else. The poems are so powerful and audacious. It is empowering just to read the words from the page. Great buy.

Chantel

VERY GOOD BOOK I ENJOY READING ALL BOOKS BUT MAYA'S IS THE BEST. MELISSA LEVITTE MOORE 14 YEARS OLD HWY 80 24394 30450 . YOUTH PRESIDENT OF BULLOCH CO NAACP WRITE ME ANYTIME YOU WISH . ANYONE! BLACK :FEMALE CHURCH GOING PERSON. LOVE SCHOOL AND I WANT TO BE A PEDITRICIAN WHEN I FINISH HIGH SCHOOL I AM A SPEAKER . I TALK TO YOUNG PEOPLE ALL THE TIME . GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH A GIFT! THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU TOO .

I bought "Phenominal Woman" because of the abbreviated poem, "I Rise", which I heard Ms. Angelou recite on a television commercial. (I stood up too!) About the same time, I was taking a college English course called Ethnic Voices in which the class read the poem she read during Clinton's inauguration. I like all of her poems that I have read and will continue to read. She is a definite inspiration.

Wheather your black or not she says exactly what you should think about yourself. And it makes you think of all your good points and makes you belive that you don't have to be a super model in order for you to be liked or respected by others. She has a power with words that I could only think about that I could never put in words.

Maya Angelou's book "Phenomenal Woman" is a celebration of women regardless of race, creed, or color. The poems contained between the covers of this small but powerful book articulate the strength and beauty of womanhood. I display the book on my coffee table along with other books. My twelve year old niece read the book and fell in love with it. She has asked me to buy a copy for her.I will buy a copy for her and my other nieces and nephews.

Words can't express enough about the wisdom and spirituality of this Author. I love Maya's work! Everything is precise, inspiring and encouraging. A must have in your collection.

Reviewed by Dr. Tikki Collins Author of "Lord Put A Ring On It"

Maya Angelou's book "Phenomenal Woman" is a celebration of women regardless of race, creed, or color. The poems contained between the covers of this small but powerful book articulate the strength and beauty of womanhood. I display the book on my coffee table along with other books. My twelve year old niece read the book and fell in love with it. She has asked me to buy a copy for her.I will buy a copy for her and my other nieces and nephews.
Maya, keep writing - you are a Queen and a "Phenomenal Woman"!
Patricia McInnis

Phenomenal Woman is an AMAZING poem that has touched so many females, showing that it is not whats on the outside that counts. showing that you dont have to be pretty or skinny to be phenomenal. this poem is one of my favorites because it made me stop worrying about what people think of me. i love this poem because when i am feeling ugly or fat i can read this poem and it will make me feel so much better.

What a wonderful collection of poems celebrating women. This book of four very soulful, strong, empowering poems has quickly become a favorite. I would recommend this book as a gift for any woman. Or better yet, buy it for yourself - you won't regret it!

Phenomenal Woman is a "sassy", provocative, intriguing, and alluring poem. Dr. Angelou delves into the soul of every woman and reaches up with the truth. I have admired Dr. Angelou since I read her autobiography (I Know why the Caged Bird Sings, et al.) since my high school days. She truly is an inspiration! Thank you, Maya!

Whether you are tall, thin, heavy, young, old, beautiful, ugly; we are all our own phenomenal woman!!!! Each of us has our own power within ourselves to shine and be our own wonderful person. Maya Angelou's own life, reaches within and brings us to this point with her words.

Maya simply extols the WOMAN. She is effortlessly eloquent and each word is perfectly selected to fit. I take pride in being a woman more so since Maya can express my feelings that I could never put into words. Her poetry deserves as many stars as there are in the black night sky.

I just wanted to let Miss Angelou know that I really enjoy her books, all of them. But Phenomenal Woman is very important poem to me because it describes what my mother and grandmother are to me and my family and hopeflly one day I will learn to be a phenomenal woman.

MYA ANGELOU HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT ROLE MODEL TO ME. PHENOMINAL WOMAN IS SOMETHING THAT ALL WOMAN SHOULD READ. IT LIFTS SPIRITS AND OPENS EYES. WHEN YOU READ IT YOU ACTUALLY DO FEEL LIKE A PHENOMINAL WOMAN.

She was obviously a brave woman---fortunate to have an extended family who could rely on for necessary support. Perhaps in her other books she acknowledges their willingness to smooth out rough times. Many women are not so fortunate