Few poems in modern literature possess the persistent power and elegance of Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise. Angelou, known for her daring voice and tremendous tenacity, wrote this poem to celebrate the human spirit’s power to overcome hatred, discrimination, and adversity.
The poem “Still I Rise” is a forceful proclamation of survival and self-worth, particularly for Black women, while its meaning is universal.
Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise”, written in 1978, is both the title of a stunning poetry collection and an anthem-like poem that has inspired generations.
In a world where many people continue to experience marginalization, racism, and emotional pain—often explored in poems about depression—Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise is a rallying cry for dignity, hope, and unwavering confidence.
Full Text of Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
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 backyard.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.
Legacy
The poem is still considered one of the most powerful pieces of modern literature. With its uncompromising tone, unwavering hope, and deeply personal strength, it speaks to everybody who has suffered adversity. Maya Angelou’s “And Still I Rise” is more than just poetry; it is a powerful statement of survival and dignity.
As part of her book And Still I Rise, this piece demonstrates why Maya Angelou’s is frequently taught in classrooms and used in civil rights movements.
While different in theme and tone, Lord Byron’s She Walks in Beauty is another example of how poetic grace and emotional clarity can leave a lasting impression on readers.