The Mothering Blackness

She came home running
back to the mothering blackness
deep in the smothering blackness
white tears icicle gold plains of her face
She came home running

She came down creeping
here to the black arms waiting
now to the warm heart waiting
rime of alien dreams befrosts her rich brown face
She came down creeping

She came home blameless
black yet as Hagar’s daughter
tall as was Sheba’s daughter
threats of northern winds die on the desert’s face
She came home blameless

Analysis (ai): "The Mothering Blackness" by Maya Angelou explores the return of a woman to her African American heritage after experiencing alienation and oppression. This work parallels Angelou's personal experiences with racism and her search for identity. The poem's imagery of "mothering blackness" and "black arms waiting" symbolizes comfort and refuge, contrasting the "white tears" and "rime of alien dreams" that represent the coldness and isolation she faced.

Compared to Angelou's earlier works, this poem exhibits a shift towards embracing her roots and asserting her strength as an African American woman. It also aligns with the themes of identity, resilience, and self-acceptance that prevailed during the Civil Rights Movement, bolstering the poem's significance as a testament to the experiences of Black women during that era. (hide)

Like (8) 3 Enjoyed it I enjoyed Inspired Like (8)

Likes: Terry Collett, Nisaba Loquatia, Cathysalesmftphdpoet, , Michael Isaac, Shaskastiza Arda, Nancy Kaufman, BrilliantlyBlended

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Nisaba Loquatia - This is so sad.

on Mar 24 2021 08:49 PM PST

Cathysalesmftphdpoet - My favorite poet

Amazing

on Jun 14 2019 05:38 AM PST

Terry Collett - Fine poem

on Apr 12 2019 12:19 AM PST

Maya Angelou Follow

Maya Angelou, born April 4, 1928 as Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, was raised in segregated rural Arkansas. She was a poet, historian, author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director. She lectured throughout the US and abroad and was Reynolds professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina since 1981. She published ten best selling books and numerous magazine articles earning her Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award nominations. At the request of President Clinton, she wrote and delivered a poem at his 1993 presidential inauguration.

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