11 Comments

"When we let the curtain fall on this minstrel show of hate." What a powerful way of saying that! This is such a powerful poem. Maya Angelou is one of my very favorite poets- what she writes (and then reads!) always touches me deeply. Thank you for this- I hadn't found it yet!

Expand full comment

Glad to add to your Maya Angelou repertoire! And yes, that line you cited really packs a punch. She can comfort and stir and rock the world, all in the same poem.

Expand full comment

Exactly! She manages to do all of that!!!

Expand full comment

“and 'each of us' is who we need to get to there from here
In these times...”

“When we come to it

We must confess that we are the possible”

Expand full comment

WE ARE THE POSSIBLE!

Expand full comment

When we come to it, that divine light that shines so bright within that it melts away all forms of fear and self-hate, then and only then will we know peace.

Expand full comment

May it be so, Myrtle!

Expand full comment

Speaking of "power"! I listened, read it again and cannot find anything that DOESN'T stand out to me. The start and the end of course....

"We, this people, on a small and lonely planet

Traveling through casual space

Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns

To a destination where all signs tell us

It is possible and imperative that we discover

A brave and startling truth...

When we come to it

We must confess that we are the possible

We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world

That is when, and only when

We come to it."

Expand full comment

Poem dense with power!

Expand full comment

These two voices in conversation made me weep with hope-- hope grouned in "each of us" is who we need to awaken to that peace we petition for in the dark.

Expand full comment

Yes, Brigid! Weeping with hope . . . poetry and music can help us remember who we are and what the world can be!

Expand full comment