From the album: Still I Rise!

YOU MAY WRITE ME DOWN IN HISTORY,
WITH YOUR BITTER, TWISTED LIES,
YOU MAY TROD ME IN THE VERY DIRT-
BUT STILL, LIKE DUST, I'LL RISE.

DOES MY SASSINESS UPSET YOU?
WHY ARE YOU BESET WITH GLOOM?
JUST 'CAUSE I WALK AS IF I HAVE OIL WELLS-
PUMPING IN MY LIVINGROOM.

JUST LIKE SUNS AND MOONS,
WITH THE CERTAINTY OF TIDES,
JUST LIKE HOPES SPRINGING HIGH-
STILL I'LL RISE.

DID YOU WANT TO SEE ME BROKEN?
BOWED HEAD AND LOWERED EYES?
SHOULDERS FALLING DOWN LIKE TEARDROPS,
WEAKENED BY MY SOULFUL CRIES...

DOES MY SASSINESS UPSET YOU?
DON'T TAKE IT SO HARD...
JUST CAUSE I LAUGH,AS IF I HAVE GOLD MINES-
DIGGING IN MY OWN BACKYARD.

YOU CAN SHOOT ME WITH YOUR WORDS,
YOU CAN CUT ME WITH YOUR LIES,
YOU CAN KILL ME WITH YOUR HATEFULNESS-
BUT JUST LIKE LIFE, I'LL RISE.

DOES MY SEXINESS OFFEND YOU?
AWW...DOES IT COME AS A SURPRISE?
THAT I DANCE AS IF I HAVE DIAMONDS-
AT THE MEETING OF MY THIGHS.

OUT OF THE HUTS OF HISTORY SHAME:

I RISE.

UP FROM A PAST ROOTED IN PAIN:

I RISE.

A BLACK OCEAN, LEAPING AND WIDE,
WELLING AND SWELLING...

I
BEAR
IN
THE TIDE!

LEAVING BEHIND NIGHTS OF TERROR AND FEAR:

I RISE.

INTO A DAYBREAK MIRACULOUSLY CLEAR:

I RISE.

BRINGING THE GIFTS THAT MY ANCESTORS GAVE-

I AM THE HOPE...
AND THE DREAM...
OF THE SLAVE!

AND SO, NATURALLY...

THERE I GO RISING!~
by Maya Angelou