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I had originally chosen to explore Maya Angelou's poetry because she was someone who I vaguely knew of, but wanted to explore a little more. However, after learning more about her she is a woman that I look up to greatly and I am so happy I am finally going to read her work and appreciate her intelligence. Maya Angelou was a truly incredible woman who did many things, she was a: poet, activist, author, singer, dancer, actress, composer, the first female black director, editor essayist, playwright and the list just goes on. However, what really touched me about her was how she used the trauma and pain she endured in her childhood and overcame it then using those experiences to create inspirational work, teach others how to find their voice and power, and fight injustice. Maya Angelou is honestly one of the most amazing women I have ever learned about and her accomplishments and spirit leaves me in awe. Her work is absolutely amazing and I am upset with myself that it took me this long to learn about her genius, but I am excited to analyze her poetry and learn from it.

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I believe that poetry is for everyone as there are many ways in which it can be interpreted. However, with this specific poem I think that the audience which it is intended for is for those who struggle with depression as they could relate best. What I understood from the poem is about the state of sadness/depression in which that author exists in and feels safe in and the unwanted glimpse of hope that intrudes. In the beginning Angelou refers to how she is "safe in the dark prison," which not only resembles her depression, but also nighttime. Later in the poem it talks about how day comes and "it is sunrise, with Hope its arrogant rider." I believe this means that with daylight there comes hope that the constant sadness and depression is just a passing feeling, but hope is what hurts because she knows with it comes disappointment. She outlines it perfectly by saying, "I cling to expectation, until darkness comes to reclaim me as its own. Hope fades, day is gone into its irredeemable place and I am thrown back into the familiar bonds of disconsolation." Overall, I think the intended audience is those with depression because she puts into words what many people who struggle with it feel, but cannot describe. The bittersweet feeling of hope that the sadness is in the past, just for it to swallow them once again when they are reminded of the darkness inside.

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This line moved me because it is a beautiful metaphor for what it is like to be trapped. The "grave of dreams" and clipped wings and tied feet symbolizes how he has been beat down by others and forced to give up hope in himself. The idea itself of a caged bird is so moving, how it has this ability to fly and reach these amazing heights, but there are people who want to strip him of that for no reason. The last line about opening his throat to sing is powerful because it shows that despite how defeated he may be, he still has his voice and uses it as his last way to express his pain.

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"Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise."
This poem represents powerful feminine energy and the first thing that I thought of was mother nature. When I searched for a photo of her this came up and not only does she look strong and ethereal she is rising.

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The title refers to all of humankind as a family and helps tie together the message the poem is sending. Maya Angelou was an activist and continuously fought to make everyone see their fellow humans as equals despite their race, gender, ethnicity etc. This poem is an ode to that as it touches on how despite every person in the world being unique, we are all the same. She compares the parallels between the human species and family as even in families each person is different yet there is something that ties them all together. The title Human Family is a reminder that we are all the same no matter who we are, and we are all still human. It is a gentle reminder of how there is no reason to discriminate against your own kind, just because they are not the exact same as you.

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The speaker in this poem is someone around 25 years old coming to understand their mother better. A person who is no longer a jaded teenager and recognizes all the wisdom their mother has to offer. A person who likely feels lost in life now realizing they know nothing as the line "mother, I have learned enough now, to know I have learned nearly nothing" explains. The person saying this poem is someone who wants to show their mother appreciation, specifically for mothers day as this is what the poem was written for. The person has reached a point in their life where they have a new found understanding and appreciation of their mother as they now have gone through the difficulties of adulthood.