Phenomenal Woman

by Maya Angelou

Pretty woman wonder where my secret lies,

I'm not cute or built to fit 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.

They swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees,

I say,

Its 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 to show them,

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 the arch of my back

The sun in 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,

I ought to make you proud

I say,

It's the click of my heals,

The bend of my hair,

The need for my care.

'Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally,

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

If by Rudyard Kipling

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you;
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting;
Or, being lied about, don't deal in the lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look to good, nor talk to wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think- and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools;
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings;
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virture,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run-
Yours is the Earth and everything that is in it,
And- which is more- you'll be a Man my son!