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Maya Angelou was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, on April 4, 1928. She is a very famous writer, stage performer, actress, and composer. Her most famous piece of literature is her autobiography entitled, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which tells the story of her childhood in segregated Arkansas. Others of her more popular works include The Heart of a Woman, which she wrote in 1981, and All God's Creatures Need Traveling Shoes, which was published in 1986. She has also composed songs and musical scores. Known for her poetry, Maya Angelou has written "Now Sheba Sings the Song" (1987) and "I Shall Not Move" (1990). She recited some of her poetry at President Clinton's inauguration in 1992. She is currently a Reynolds Professor of American Studies and Wake Forest university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Other works by Maya Angelou:
An excerpt from "On the Pulse of Morning"
Lift up you eyes upon
This day breaking for you.
Give birth again
To the dream.Women, children, men,
Take it into the palms of your hands.
Mold it into the shape of your most
Private need. Sculpt it into
The image of your most public self.
Lift up your hearts
Ech new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings.
Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.
...
Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister's eyes and into
Your brother's face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope
Good morning.
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