“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history You may kill me with your hatefulness,
With your bitter, twisted lies, But still, like air, I’ll rise.
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise. Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
Does my sassiness upset you? That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
Why are you beset with gloom? At the meeting of my thighs?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room. Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Just like moons and like suns, Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
With the certainty of tides, I rise
Just like hopes springing high, I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Still I’ll rise. Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Did you want to see me broken? Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
Bowed head and lowered eyes? I rise
Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
Weakened by my soulful cries. I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors
Does my haughtiness offend you? gave,
Don’t you take it awful hard I am the dream and the hope of the
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines slave.
Diggin’ in my own back yard. I rise
I rise
You may shoot me with your words,
I rise.
You may cut me with your eyes,
Maya Angelou, “Still I Rise” from And Still I Rise. Copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou
Who do you think the speaker/narrator of the poem is? Is it a person? A cultural group?
Identify words or phrases that help you identify the speaker/narrator.
How does the speaker/narrator seem to feel about herself (or itself)? Draw a face that
represents that emotion (e.g., a smiley face, sad face or angry face) next to a word phrase
that exhibits it. Have you ever felt that way about yourself? If so, share with your partner
what makes you feel that way.
To whom do you think the poem is directed? Highlight words and phrases that support your
answers and share them with your partner.
What message is the writer trying to give to the person or group to which she is writing?
Have you ever had to give a similar message to someone? If so, when?
What do you believe the poem’s overall theme is? Examples include hopelessness, strength,
resiliency, spirit and anger. Write the theme you have identified at the top of the poem. Then
draw an arrow to a word or phrase from the poem that supports that theme.
Do you see this poem in a historical context? If so, explain that context to your partner.
Finally, consider and share with your partner how your own knowledge, experiences and
cultural identify influence the way you have chosen to interpret the poem. Have you
interpreted it differently than your partner?