“A Rock, A River, A Tree
Hosts to species long since departed,
Marked the mastodon,
The dinosaur, who left dried tokens
Of their sojourn here
On our planet floor,
Any broad alarm of their hastening doom
Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages.”
I remember reciting this poem, On the Pulse of the Morning, in sixth grade for my rite of passage ceremony. At the time, I had no idea of the magnitude of these words, had no understanding of the historical significance of the recitation of this poem, and had little understanding of how truly phenomenal the author was and will forever be. Maya Angelou, the original phenomenal woman, has created something far more special than the materialistic things we hold dear today. She created words that will stand the test of time. Her words helped me culminate my 6th grade year, they’ve helped to celebrate the inauguration of a new President, and they’ve helped women everywhere contemplate their worth.
In life, she was phenomenal. In death, she will be more magnificent in our memories than even her own words could express. In memory of her, let’s embrace each day and work to exceed as women – together – just as she would have wanted.
“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels.”
Maya Angelou
1928-2014
R.I.P. to The Original