Dr. Maya Angelou of the beautiful name and the radiant spirit has passed. I hope for all who love her, and who admired her many works in civil rights, in autobiographies, in speaking out boldly, that we can be today and always in happiness for her life on earth– for certain she is One of a Kind.
Iconic woman, hard scrabble beginnings, raped as a child, mute from the post trauma of that assault, coming back to life, training in classical Shakespeare, singer, actor, writer, poet– and mother to her son.
Maya was madrina, Godmother, to me, and to many others. I spoke to her ten days ago. She has been my friend, guide, comadre -sister-mother-daughter, exemplar to me for twenty five years. She has been also mother and angel to literally hundreds of others in close inner circle, and guardian and guide to thousands and millions through her speeches, films and her many books– and also may I add, her presence.
To be in Maya’s presence was to with Dignity personified, she could sit quietly, she a tall and large woman, for hours if need be in some kind of mountain silence with only her beautiful eyes sparkling… and those sudden flashes of her gorgeous smile. Generosity beyond mere politeness, Understanding of walking in hell beyond the trivial prettied up happily ever after versions espoused by some, Deep Rooted beyond the overcultural claptrap regarding any subject–unafraid to criticize her own and others, and yet with an incredible eagle eye for sloth, greed, envy, and pride in others. Unafraid to call out whomever misused others, and misused God.
Many remember her as the poet who gave the poem at Bill Clinton’s inauguration. Others remember “Miss Maya”, Dr. Angelou, Maya– as this giant heart on legs… a broken heart, a wise heart, a truly undominatable soul.
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Maya, it’s too early to say … so much. I will tell people soon about your dignified and wise ways of pulling up imprudent and intolerant people short– and often gracing them with transformative opportunity, your ways of blasting through stone walls, your ways of showering love on this needful world. I will. But to rush to say so much, today, must wait a bit, to put the required craft and time to it. But just this for now Maya:
thank you for all you did,
all you were,
all you knew,
all you shared,
all you broke through,
all you trampled down,
all you raised up…
so many souls here will laud you on your way.
Shine on dear Maya, shine on dear heart.
As we often said to one another, ‘Some say God is with them. We dont say that. We say, we are with God.’
So be it Maya, and it is so, today and always.
with all my love,
your Clarisita/ dr.e
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One of Maya’s most iconic poems:
I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS
The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
Maya Angelou, REQUIESCAT IN PACE, Rest in Peace.
——the images
–Dr. Maya Angelou
–the Honorable Archbishop Desmond Tu Tu and Dr. Maya Angelou