Maya Angelou's Poetic Justice
Life has many twists and turns, some bigger than others. In Maya
Angelou’s life she goes through some of the biggest twists and turns at a young
age that prepared her for the world.
Maya Angelou’s life events help her to construct her poems’
meanings and outlook on life by putting her through the worst so she can
understand the reality of life. In her poem“Men,” Angelou’s diction and
description of men illustrate her thoughts about them. She was “starving for
them,” and “watch[ing them] behind the curtains,”as a young girl (Men1:10).
Angelou describe the men as “ sharp as mustard,”basically calling them urbane
and nice-looking (Men1:4). In another one of Angelou’s pieces “ Phenomenal
Women,” her standing point of who she is and how she thinks of herself is
clearly stated. She has “ no secrets,” she doesn’t have to be “ a fashion
model’s size,” she is who she is. When you see her passing it should “ make you
proud,” that she is a phenomenal women inside and out. In one of Maya Angelou’s
most inspiring poems “ Alone,” she keeps it simple but sticks to the point. She
thinks “ nobody can make it out here alone,” implying that if she was alone she
wouldn’t of made it. Even “millionaires,” needed someone to help them get there
and something or someone to spend that money on. A lot of Maya Angelou’s poems
have to deal with the things that have happened in her life that she doesn’t
hesitate to share.
During Angelou’s life she lived through many tragic events which inspired
some of her poetry. Angelou said her grandmother was her “ rainbow in the
clouds,” when her parents split up. Like a“ rainbow in the clouds,” Angelou’s
grandmother helped her through thick and thin. Without her grandmother’s
guidance she probably wouldn’t be the women she is today. At this time in
Angelou’s life she realizes her “history … cannot be unlived.” Angelou’s
“history,” had a lot of twists and turns including her being raped, prejudice
actions and her five year silence. She “cannot unlive,”her past so she moves to
bigger and better things. Angelou stopped talking due to the killing of her
mother’s boyfriend. She thought she had “ killed him with her words.” She didn’t
realize the real reason he was killed until five years later when she started to
talk again. Maya Angelou’s poetry didn’t shape her life her life shaped her
poetry.
Maya Angelou doesn’t let the world decide what her future is or
let people change how she feels about herself she keeps her pride and
confidence. A good example of Angelou’s outlook on life would be in her poem
“ Inaugural poem.” Angelou’s outlook on life has been built up by her social life events.
Maya Angelou has a lot in her mind that still probably hasn’t been shared today. She is currently
81 years old and living a life she made for herself. Taking control of her life
and not letting“ negativity [knock at her] door.” Even though some of the things
she went through were tough she still managed to get some good out of it and
right true poetry.