Guest Post by Tadiwanashe
Phenomenal Woman
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Mexican Silver 
This Poem is good at grasping your attention. It makes use of features such as repetition,rhyme and rhythm which keeps you interested. The language she uses places her on a thrown because she draws all attention to herself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good, Rudo! I think her use of the first person singular pronoun “I” is also helpful in achieving this effect. Also, *throne 😉 😉 😉
LikeLike
This was a really lovely extract, becuse it really does make one think why people care for them. Although you may not find yourself worthy of being loved, someone may think of you as the most amazing person that has walked on the earth. Not only that, but it makes you appreciate what you have, because some people will always be prettier, or look better than you, and you will always look better than others. The fact of the matter is, that embrace what you have and enjoy life to ever second you have it. The language used in this extract it phenomenal 😉 This is because, repeating the word Phenomnal really does embrace the fact that woman are incerdibe creatures and often are taken for granted. The tone used is a bit ‘cocky’, due to the fact that the writer is telling us how beautiful she is. Which actually ties into the whole pnomenal feel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very good, Jess!
LikeLike
I love the poem Tadi!! We discussed in class that a good poem has a beat, rhythm like a song, it has short sentences and it rhymes. All qualities that I mentioned above are in this poem. Maya also uses a figure of speech, repetition. This is like a constant reminder to the reader about the title “Phenomenal Woman” as they read the poem.
LikeLike
This poem, like Rudo has commented, is good at grabbing and keeping your attention. The repetition of the phrase, ”I’m a woman, phenomenal, phenomenally” resonates within the reader, and somehow builds up a sense of power within a female reader. The writer also touches on how being a woman is not defined by society and media, but by your inner essence as a woman and that makes you the most attractive being, simply by being yourself. There’s also this element of intimacy within the poem, as if the writer is trying to tell you her secret to beauty by her explanations of, “It’s in…”. Nice poem.
LikeLike
Was a lovely poem. It made me think of the little things that make you a women. It makes me see that it’s not only in the beauty or how you act, it can be how you hold yourself, the stride in your step. It can be how you take pride in the way you speak. You don’t need to shout to grab people’s attention. You just need to be confident in yourself and people will see you as a women.
So, as much as it is saying how the writer is a phenomenal woman, it also give advice on how you could be a phenomenal woman too.
LikeLike