a poem for Maya Angelou, may 28th, 2014
I.
I was only 12
when my mother came to me
with your book of poetry
and all i could do
was hide in my room
and read it
all
II.
I did not know what
a Phenomenal Woman was
but later when I said
I want to be a poet
at least my mother knew
what that could look like
at least my mother knew
poets made books that made
children believe they could make themselves
whole
III.
Just the way you look at me
those straight shot no mess eyes
insist that I
put all of me out there
for the world to see
IV.
I was only 12
when my mother handed me your book
which was her way of telling me
it’s okay to be a girl
to be an African girl
and try to be somebody
© 2014 Uchechi Kalu