To Phenomenal Women Everywhere.

[Guest guest]

Jan, I'm a fan of Maya Angelou. I think someone hijacked her name and put it on

a poem that isn't hers. Following is what I know to

be her poem, " Phenomenal Woman " :

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I'm telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It's the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can't touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them

They say they still can't see.

I say,

It's in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Now you understand

Just why my head's not bowed.

I don't shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It's in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need of my care,

'Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

http://www.empirezine.com/spotlight/maya/maya-p1.htm

[ ] To Phenomenal Women Everywhere.

To a Phenomenal Woman

by Maya Angelou

When I was in my younger days,

I weighed a few pounds less,

I needn't hold my tummy in

to wear a belted dress.

But now that I am older,

I’ve set my body free;

There’s comfort of elastic

Where once my waist would be.

Inventor of those high-heeled shoes

My feet have not forgiven;

I have to wear a nine now,

But used to wear a seven.

And how about those pantyhose--

They're sized by weight, you see,

So how come when I put them on

The crotch is at my knee?

I need to wear these glasses

As the print's been getting smaller;

And it wasn't very long ago

I know that I was taller.

Though my hair has turned to gray

and my skin no longer fits,

On the inside, I'm the same old me,

It’s the outside's changed a bit.

But, on a positive note...

I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it

seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by

the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost

luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with

your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your

life.

I've learned that making a " living " is not the same

thing as making a " life. "

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second

chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a

catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw

something back.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an

open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have

to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and

touch someone.

People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I've learned that people will forget what you said,

people will forget what you did, but people will never forget

how you made them feel.

Always try to live your life as you would like to be treated.

If you don't ...the elastic will break and your panty

hose will fall down around your ankles. +/:=)