Poem – Let me count the innumerable ways

I first had an opportunity to hear Dr ‪#‎MayaAngelou‬ speak at my Alma Mater, University of Cincinnati, oh so many years ago. To date, I cannot forget her words, how she said them, her style, her confidence, her humor, the depth of her character. She inspired me, like countless others & I carried the lessons throughout my life, as I got better & better acquainted with her. Here is a poem I had written, taking off from her poem “I am a phenomenal woman” – http://bit.ly/WNL1Fs RIP Dr. Angelou – you will never cease to be an inspiration!  (poem below was written in response to domestic abuse – based on Maya Angelou’s poem and her inspiration.  This poem is dedicated to the brave women who overcame and prevailed and whose stories I heard when I served on the board of a support network.)

Maya Angelou (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I will rise.
I will rise, and rise, and rise again.

I will learn from the resilience of our kids.
I will weep on the shoulders of my friends.
Their hugs instill new energy into me.
I will count on my family.

I will go to school, take classes and learn.
I will find mentors and learn to earn
I will earn well and provide
My children will live with dignity and pride

I will use the system when it can help me
And know when to let it be
I will know not to rely entirely on the system
When I stop falling apart, and am not a whining victim

System then can’t distinguish between abused and the abuser
As I get stronger, challenges will become harder
I will learn to deal with cyber threats
Slander, lies, cyber stalking, and other pranks

Cyber, financial, legal, domestic, I will learn to recognize
Various forms of control and abuse.
I will rise and learn to love and trust
Love ensconced amidst dignity and respect

I will speak up
Against war, violence, and disrespect
Your ways are finite
Let me count the innumerable ways, I might

Rise. And rise, and rise again.
For, I am a phenomenal woman.