A Woman Should . . . by Maya Angelou

L-R Rev. Qiyamah, Dr. Amina Wadud and Rev. Alma Crawford



I recently ran across a poem by Maya Angelou that a friend, Mary el sent to me. It is one of Maya Angelou's lesser known works that contains crisp snippets of wisdom about Black women's realities and ways to stay sane in a world that demands so much of us and often gives so little. It depicts the strength and humor of our lives.
Blessed Be! Rev. Qiyamah


A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
HOW TO QUIT A JOB,
BEAK UP WITH A LOVER,
AND CONFRONT A FRIEND WITHOUT RUINING THE FRIENDSHIP...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone...even if she doesn't like it..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't
take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...