A poem is a piece of writing that partakes in the nature of both speech and song that is nearly always rhythmical, usually metaphorical, and often exhibits such formal elements as meter, rhyme, and stanzaic structure. The reason I am writing about poems is because I had to write one for a class and I never really realized the greatness of poems. While I was researching ideas on how to write this poem for class I had found one that really spoke to me and I think it is something that everyone should read. The title of this poem is called “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou. I am going to explain some of the parts of the poem that spoke to me the most and what I think they mean.
You may write me down in historyÂ
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirtÂ
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Maya Angelou
This is the first stanza. To me this is a very powerful first line. To me this means that other people will talk about you and can try and paint a bad picture of you and bring you down. But no matter what other people say it has no reflection of you and you will still overcome what others say about you.
Does my sassiness upset you?Â
Why are you beset with gloom?
 ’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wellsÂ
Pumping in my living room.
Maya Angelou
This is the second stanza. To me this shows that sometimes people will be jealous or insecure of the way you present yourself. Others will try to bring you down but your morals and confidence will override anyone’s sourness they have towards you.
You may shoot me with your words,Â
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,Â
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Maya Angelou
This is the sixth stanza. To me this means that people will do anything to try and minimize you, bring you down, or weaken you. But if you stay true to who you are no matter what anyone says or does you will overcome it and rise above.
This is just bits and pieces of the poem that spoke out to me the most. The wonderful thing about poems is that you can interpret it however you want. This is just my opinion of what these stanzas mean to me and what I got out of reading them. Poems are made to make you feel something and I feel like after reading this one it made me feel confident, joyful, and inspired. If you want to read the whole poem you can click here. Enjoy the reading and think about how this poem made you feel after!