Poetry Critique

1. Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou
http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/maya_angelou/poems/492

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.

2. I selected this poem because I have always enjoyed reading Maya Angelou's poetry. I found her voice and tone in this poem very interesting because she portrayed the 'phenomenal woman' as someone who is confident in themselves and their personality, even if they aren't completely confident in the their appearance. I think this is a great poem for any girl or woman to read because so many people find it hard to focus on the positive aspects of their personality, instead of just their appearance.

3. The title fits the poem perfectly because 'phenomenal women' is exactly what the subject and tone is.

4. Maya Angelou used a metaphor when she described the men surrounding her, like bees to a honey hive. She also used rhyming techniques to make the rhythm of the poem smooth and flowing. When she talked about he way the aspects of the 'phenomenal woman' it created a sense of imagery in the reader's mind.

5. The tone portrays a very confident, happy, and distinguished person. The author did this by describing her mannerisms in front of other men and women and the way she felt about herself. The words she used to do this also helped portray a sense of imagery and rhythm.