Maya Angelou's Path to Liberation*
By Leni Marlina*
In the crucible of hardship's forge, a voice unfurled,
Born amid shadows, yet destined to illuminate the world.
Maya Angelou, her spirit a phoenix flight,
A lighthouse in the tempest, guiding with words of might.
From St. Louis' bustling streets to a global stage,
Her pen etched truths, each line a lyrical cage.
Through the crucible of childhood trials, she found her song,
In poetry's embrace, she wove resilience strong.
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," her memoir bared,
A symphony of courage, its melody dared.
Her words, like rivers coursing wild and free,
Carved pathways of hope for all to see.
In verses spun with the silk of grace,
She painted tapestries of pride and race.
"Still I Rise," her anthem, a thunderclap defiance,
Against the storm of doubt, her spirit's alliance.
In the civil rights' crucible, she took her stand,
With Martin Luther King, hand in hand.
Her activism, a pen's flame in the night,
A beacon for justice, ablaze with insight.
Adorned with accolades, medals gleaming gold,
Her legacy, a tapestry of tales untold.
Educator, performer, wise and kind,
Maya Angelou, an oracle of the mind.
Through life's labyrinth, she paved the way,
For silenced voices to reclaim their sway.
Her words, a tapestry of hope and dove's flight,
In hearts and classrooms, a perennial light.
May Maya's spirit, like dawn's gentle hue,
Inspire forever, with dreams anew.
Her poetry, an eternal river's flow,
Navigating souls where courage dares to grow.
Burwood - Melbourne, April 2012
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