Phenomenal Women

Phenomenal women

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.

           - Maya Angelou

Analysis

The poem “Phenomenal Woman” is a classic piece of Black Feminist Poetry by Maya Angelou. It explains the different details about a woman that makes her phenomenal. Maya shows us that this woman feels great about herself regardless of what others think. Throughout the poem she tells us that nobody seems to understand what it is that makes her attractive because she is not physically beautiful by society’s standards. So what makes this woman so appealing? The woman in this poem is appealing to others because of her inner beauty and how she feels about herself. It is not about how she looks on the outside nor is it about what makes her attractive to the opposite sex. Even other women notice there is a something about this woman but they don’t understand why because she does not portray what is considered beautiful just by looking at her. The poem opens up by saying “Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size” She lets us know from the beginning that it is not her physical features that make her attractive. “Men themselves have wondered what they see in me. They try so much but they can’t touch my inner mystery.” This shows that it is not an actual feature that makes her attractive to men it is something that cannot be seen or touched, it is something that comes from within. “I walk into a room just as cool as you please, and to a man the fellows stand or fall on their knees. Then they swarm around me, a hive of honey bees.“ This part of the poem shows that men do find her attractive and are drawn to her like bees to honey. So, to be the phenomenal woman is not only about physical appearance but also the real women must concern to inner beauty to change people stereotype. Because inner beauty is more powerful to make women regard as phenomenal woman.