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Angelou, Maya. "Men." PoemHunter.com. N.p., 03 Jan. 2003. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.

"Maya Angelou." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 04 Apr. 2017. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.

"MESSAGE FROM THE FAMILY." Caged Bird Legacy. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2017

."Woman Work - Maya Angelou." PoemHunter.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.

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"Women Work" is about a woman's chores and jobs. This poem relates to Maya Angelou's life as a single mom. The first stanza is fast paced, which is mostly due to the rhyming, listing chores with an overwhelming feel. The remaining stanzas are showing the resting period in her day," 'till I can rest again."(Angelou, 22) These stanzas are also used to show what relieves her stress, nature. The Theme occurring throughout the poem is work and stress. The work is shown throughout the poem through the chores. Stress, which she uses nature to relieve, is shown through the difficultly of raising children all alone.

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"Men" is a poem about one of Maya Angelou's experiences. She starts off by telling how much she loved men and how she would always watch them. As the story progresses she goes through a rough experience that changes her mind about men. She hits the breaking point and bursts. "But this time, I will simply
Stand and watch." (Angelou, 44) She no longer wants them and goes after them she just watch. The theme of this poem starts out positive goes to negative and then returns positive. It is very encouraging as a reader knowing that even through trial and tribulation you can persevere. The poem contains three stanzas which help with its structure and flow. The poem does not rhyme which helps with the intimacy and makes it feel like a true story. Some may not know but this poem does have some personal and historical context. During her life , Maya was in a toxic relationship that ultimately led to abuse and rape. "Angelou was sexually abused and raped by her mother's boyfriend, a man named Freeman." (Biography.com) In her life this event realign took a tole and impacted her life. This led to the writing of this poem to share her story.

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Simile- "Like the head of a kitchen match. Shattered." (Angelou, 30) Maya is talking about how she loved someone and then there love shattered.

Metaphor- "Your mind pops, exploding fiercely, briefly." (Angelou, 28) Maya here is referring to all the rough experiences and she finally breaks. The relationship was very bad and pushed her to the breaking point.

Imagery- "It is your juice
That runs down their legs. Staining their shoes." (Angelou, 32-34) Angelou is giving a detailed description of her heart being broken and the"juice" dripping down.

Simile- " Young men sharp as mustard" (Angelou, 5) Maya here is describing the mens attire saying they are very sharp and classy

Imagery- "When I was young, I used to Watch behind the curtains
As men walked up and down the street." (Angelou, 1-4) You get the image of her watching all of the men walk by and she is hiding.

Simile- " as if you were the last raw egg in the world." This is a simile because it compares us to a raw egg in the world.

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Personification- "I got a company to feed"(Angelou, 7)  This is a use of personification because it is saying that the company needs to be fed, which is a human-like quality.

Personification- "Fall gently, snowflakes , Cover me with white ,Cold icy kisses"(Angelou, 23-25) This shows personification because it is giving snowflakes the ability to kiss.

Imagery- "Fall gently, snowflakes
Cover me with white, Cold icy kisses and, Let me rest tonight."(Angelou, 23-26) This quote clearly paints the image that Maya Angelou is trying to portray.

Repetition-"The floor to mop, The food to shop"(Angelou, 3-4) Maya Angelou repetitively names off chores she has to do.

Hyperbole- "Let me float across the sky"(Angelou, 21)  Here Maya is exaggerating that she will float across the sky.

Rhyme- "I've got the children to tend ,The clothes to mend"(Angelou, 1-2)
The last word of every two consecutive lines rhyme.

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When I was young, I used to
Watch behind the curtains
As men walked up and down the street. Wino men, old men.
Young men sharp as mustard.
See them. Men are always
Going somewhere.
They knew I was there. Fifteen
Years old and starving for them.
Under my window, they would pauses,
Their shoulders high like the
Breasts of a young girl,
Jacket tails slapping over
Those behinds,
Men.

One day they hold you in the
Palms of their hands, gentle, as if you
Were the last raw egg in the world. Then
They tighten up. Just a little. The
First squeeze is nice. A quick hug.
Soft into your defenselessness. A little
More. The hurt begins. Wrench out a
Smile that slides around the fear. When the
Air disappears,
Your mind pops, exploding fiercely, briefly,
Like the head of a kitchen match. Shattered.
It is your juice
That runs down their legs. Staining their shoes.
When the earth rights itself again,
And taste tries to return to the tongue,
Your body has slammed shut. Forever.
No keys exist.

Then the window draws full upon
Your mind. There, just beyond
The sway of curtains, men walk.
Knowing something.
Going someplace.
But this time, I will simply
Stand and watch.

Maybe.

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I've got the children to tend
The clothes to mend
The floor to mop
The food to shop
Then the chicken to fry
The baby to dry
I got company to feed
The garden to weed
I've got shirts to press
The tots to dress
The can to be cut
I gotta clean up this hut
Then see about the sick
And the cotton to pick.

Shine on me, sunshine
Rain on me, rain
Fall softly, dewdrops
And cool my brow again.

Storm, blow me from here
With your fiercest wind
Let me float across the sky
'Til I can rest again.

Fall gently, snowflakes
Cover me with white
Cold icy kisses and
Let me rest tonight.

Sun, rain, curving sky
Mountain, oceans, leaf and stone
Star shine, moon glow
You're all that I can call my own.

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by Sam McCoy and Jacob Perdomo

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Childhood
Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis Missouri.  When Maya was three her parents divorced, and her father sent them to Arkansas to live with their paternal grandmother. Four years later, the children's father came to Arkansas without warning and returned them to their mother's care in St. Louis. At the age of eight, while living with her mother, Angelou was sexually abused and raped by her mother's boyfriend. After this tragic event Maya went mute for about five years. It was during this time period when Angelou developed her love for literature, books, and her ability to listen and observe the world around her.

Adult life and career
In 1951, Angelou married Tosh Angelos, despite the condemnation of interracial relationships at the time and the disapproval of her mother. Before Angelou was a writer, she pursued other passions. These being an actress, editor, and a journalist. After spending a good time overseas as an editor, Angelou was urged by friend and fellow writer James Baldwin to write about her life experiences. Her efforts resulted in the very successful 1969 memoir about her childhood and young adult years, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which made literary history as the first nonfiction best-seller by an African-American woman. Angelou continued to write poems and books for the rest of her life. Angelou's talents were recognized, and she was given many awards.

Later Life
After experiencing many health issues, Angelou passed away on May 28, 2014, at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The news of her passing shocked the world, and spread quickly. Maya Angelou will be remembered for her work, and how she lived her life.