Still I Rise: An Analytical Perspective.
One of the best ways to express your thoughts and inner-most feelings is to write. Maya Angelou understands that and uses every aspect of literary language to convey her heartfelt thoughts. In her popular poem "Still I Rise", Ms Angelou speaks of the crippling affects that darker skin can have on not only a person's image but their character. She goes on to say that in light of this she will rise. Through her choice of words and word structure a powerful message is conveyed. Even the smallest rearrangement in word choice could sabotage the intensity and powerful emotion of the poem. The poem was arranged perfectly to leave a lasting imprint in the hearts of many, even years after Maya Angelou has passed.
One of the most fascinating elements of this poem is it's emotion. The emotion that stands out beyond the others is Maya's obvious cockiness about the way she sees herself. Rather than simply saying that she is proud of who she is and emphasizing the fact that she is a confident African American; Maya uses a more clever stance. In one line Maya leaves a lingering thought: "Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? Cause I walk like I've got oil wells pumping in my living room" (Angelou, Still I Rise). In that stanza alone, it is obvious that Maya Angelou is a bold and extremely confident woman. It shows that regardless of the fact that she is a black woman, she has worth. Referencing that line again, her choice of word arrangement is brilliant. Had the line read, "Does my boldness upset you? Why are you distressed-, almost all emotion would have been lost. Maya seemed to know exactly which words to place where to produce the proper emotions in each reader. It is as if she wants African American readers to think higher of themselves because she is bold enough to think highly of herself. Taking her level of assurance one step further Maya exclaims, " Does it come as a surprise that I dance like I've got diamonds at the meeting of my thighs".