Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well: Poems

by Maya Angelou

This collection of thirty-six poems is, once again, eloquent evidence of Maya Angelou's continuing celebration of Here are poems of love and memory; poems of racial confrontation; songs of the street and songs from the heart.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Feminism, Poetry Plays, African American, Spirituality, Classics

71 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Angelou's series of seven autobiographies focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim.
She became a poet and writer after a string of odd jobs during her young adulthood. These included fry cook, sex worker, nightclub performer, Porgy and Bess cast member, Southern Christian Leadership Conference coordinator, and correspondent in Egypt and Ghana during the decolonization of Africa. Angelou was also an actress, writer, director, and producer of plays, movies, and public television programs. In 1982, she was named the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Angelou was active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Beginning in the 1990s, she made approximately 80 appearances a year on the lecture circuit, something she continued into her eighties. In 1993, Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993) at the first inauguration of Bill Clinton, making her the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961.
With the publication of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou publicly discussed aspects of her personal life. She was respected as a spokesperson for Black people and women, and her works have been considered a defense of Black culture. Her works are widely used in schools and universities worldwide, although attempts have been made to ban her books from some U.S. libraries. Angelou's most celebrated works have been labeled as autobiographical fiction, but many critics consider them to be autobiographies. She made a deliberate attempt to challenge the common structure of the autobiography by critiquing, changing, and expanding the genre. Her books center on themes that include racism, identity, family, and travel.

Reviews

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite poem ever:

Passing Time

Your skin like dawn
Mine like musk

One paints the beginning
of a certain end.

The other, the end of a
sure beginning.

[Julietta · Rating 5 out of 5]

These 3 poetry books have been sitting on my bookshelf since the 1980s (yes, I'm that old) and I'm finally getting around to really peruse them, not just a cursory glance! Seems likely that I'll give all 3 a hearty 5 stars as I did so for "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie" and am doing so again for "Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well." This leaves me only "And Still I Rise."

Unfortunately, both my poetry and Black history knowledge are not quite up to par for what Maya Angelou was able to create. Fortunately, I DO know what I like, what makes me shudder and cringe or feel a tingle of remembrance down my spine. And these poems give me an excess of all of that!

For example:

Wonder

A day
drunk with the nectar of
nowness
weaves its way between
the years
to find itself at the flophouse
of night
to sleep and be seen
no more.

Will I be less
dead because I wrote this
poem or you more because
you read it
long years hence.

Without a doubt, Maya Angelou is "less dead" because she wrote this poem and all of her others. Her legacy lives way beyond her mortal time! Am I more dead from reading it...that's a poser?

OPMWAGFMW contains many powerful political cries for racial equality and an end to mistreatment. In the following example, "America" embodied as a female, is taken to task. She sorely lacks in execution of her promise.

America

The gold of her promise
has never been mined

Her borders of justice
not clearly defined

Her crops of abundance
the fruit and the grain

Have not fed the hungry
nor eased that deep pain

Her proud declarations
are leaves on the wind

Her southern exposure
black death did befriend

Discover this country
dead centuries cry

Erect noble tablets
where none can decry

"She kills her bright future
and rapes for a sou

Then entraps her children
with legends untrue"

I beg you

Discover this country

I'll leave you with these two examples: one tender and one harsh.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read something by an African-American author for Black History month and what is readily available here (in genres that don’t make me want to run screaming) were three mystery authors, including Al Roker and Blair Underwood, neither of which write things I enjoy. Then it occurred to me, I hadn’t reread Maya Angelou in ages so I grabbed this book of the shelf.

The book I divided into several parts but in my eyes, it’s really two parts: the struggles and pain of relationship and loneliness and racial inequality. It’s worth noting that this was written in the early 1970’s.

While I haven’t the right background (or age bracket) to truly relate to the racism issues, I think anyone who finds the idea abhorrent will find something in these poems that speaks to them. There are a few about Africa itself that are particularly poignant.

I can easily relate to the troubles with relationships and loneliness. There are several poems in that vein that can leave you aching.

Ms Angelou has long been considered a master of her field and rightfully so. Any of her poetry books are worth picking up. The title of this one alone is worth it.

[Josha Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Maya's work. Her poetry is always so thought-provoking without being convoluted. There were multiple poems in this book that presented ideas that were new to me.

One of the poems that I think has only grown in relevance since it's release is Take Time Out. I feel like I jump to my gut reaction to things when I see something or someone. That impulse feels even more important to acknowledge in our current political climate.

It feels like through contemplation isn't something that I have time for. It sometimes it feels like exploring the unknown is reserved for people who have shown us a certain result in the past. That you need to have a certain level of education, or pedigree to think without any kind of financial incentive. That thought is only valuable if your thoughts produce something. That the value of thought is not intrinsic.

With that perspective in mind, it is easy to simply let things go. What I think is so brilliant about this piece is that, it is a call to question our environment, and by reading this piece you do exactly as she suggests.

You take time out.

[Vincent Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Oh Pray My Wings are Gonna Fit Me Well , Maya Angelou tackles identification with the ordinary and universal. The book is divided into five parts and consists of 36 poems, which you feel as you read through that they are best read out aloud. The poems evoke deep feelings with racism being focal.

Generally, the poems are light verse with a mixture of humour to lighten the mood especially at the sadness of growing old or a teenager who has lost her boyfriend. It is genius how Angelou uses her personal experiences in political discourses, racism and liberation. Moreover, the poems have lines with varying lengths, a style that makes them kind of narrative and enjoyable to read.

As it is with the other of her poetry, this collection is a good-to-read for any avid poetry reader.

[Iamthesword · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second volume of poetry by Maya Angelou and again a very enjoyable one. The poems touch a wide range of subjects, from the personal to the political and back again. There is a strong sense of history and the past in her poetry that I quite like. It is presented as a powerful force, always there, something you have to struggle with not to get overpowered eventually. As far as I understand, this volume dives deeper into the African heritage of American black people which gives the poems another layer. Unfortunately, I know far too little about African culture and history to grasp all the nuances - but it might be a motivation to change that to get even deeper into her wonderful poetry.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading through Maya Angelous complete collection of poems is great. This was a really good section. Angelou writes about everything and anything, painting pictures with great words and even moving the words around on the pages for visual poetry. She's truly a master of poetry and I'm feeling really inspired to work on my own poetry.

[missy jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard Maya Angelou read once, years ago, in Salt Lake City... one of the most amazing literary experiences of my life. I have never forgotten the timbre of her voice, and remembering it makes me love her poetry even more. I think Maya Angelou's poems are better suited for the human voice than for the printed page.

[tiffany nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Artful Pose
Of falling leaves and melting
snows, of birds
in their delights
Some poets sing
their melodies
tendering my nights
sweetly.

My pencil halts
and will not go
along that quiet path
I need to write
of lovers false

and hate
and hateful wrath
quickly.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

[S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

39 poems on identity, racism, love, and resilience.

Her poems are as usual rich with metaphor and imagery, and she has a unique ability to capture the essence of a moment or emotion with just a few words. Powerful and lyrical. Weaving together themes of personal struggle and societal injustice but also love, loss, and hope. Creating a sense of shared humanity ..

[Michelé · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even when I don’t fully understand what she’s going for, Angelou always evokes an emotion or mood or scene. Such strong use of language. I’m going to look up performances of these because they just really seem to want to be read aloud.

[Steph Scholl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this collection. My favorites include: “Alone”, “Africa”, “Lord, In My Heart”, “Song For The Old Ones” and “Take Time Out”. “Communication I” was also beautiful.

[madi · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful prose she is an amazing poet

[Joy Matteson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maya Angelou wrote this in 1975, and her poetry could not be more timeless, reading it 50 years later. Piercing, haunting, and lyrical.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

On late evenings when
quiet inhabits my garden
when grass sleeps and
streets are only paths for silent
mist.

I seem to remember

Smiling.

"I Almost Remember"

See the cover of this collection with Maya smiling from her soul? Did the designer even read the collection? Several times Angelou notes the misery in the world plaguing her soul makes smiling a long-distant memory. Now is too serious for smiling.

Compared to Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Diiie, this collection is better balanced. There's less vitriolic ranting and more poetry. There's a low point with "The Pusher" and "Chicken-Licken," but these poems are forgotten amongst the others. Angelou plays with rhymes and conceits while reflecting on her personal past as well as the past of her ancestors. Several poems scan like lyrics to a blues song, keeping the poetry grounded and accessible but never simplistic. She doesn't have to write like Eliot or Bishop to give her poetry academic bearing; she need only present her reflections within her inimitable, beguiling voice. Her voice will become stronger as she matures, but hints of its power are revealed in this compact collection.

Of falling leaves and melting
snows, of birds
in their delights
Some poets sing
their melodies
tendering my nights
sweetly.

My pencil halts
and will not go
along that quiet path
I need to write
of lovers false

and hate
and hateful wrath
quickly.

"Artful Pose"

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well” by May Angelou.

Maya Angelou writes her poetry with lateral thought, or more like sub-lateral thinking with perspectives from the underside. James Baldwin describes her work as, “Black, bitter and beautiful, she speaks of our survival.”
My favourite poem in this book is “Take Time Out” which challenges our acceptance of the status quo and suggests that “we'd better see.” The latter half of the poems goes:

Use a minute
feel some sorrow
for the folks
who think tomorrow
is a place that they
can call up
on the phone.

Take a month
and show some kindness
for the folks
who thought that blindness
was an illness that
affected eyes alone.

If you know that youth
is dying on the run
and my daughter trades
dope stories with your son
we'd better see
what all our
fearing and our
jeering and our
crying and
our lying
brought about.

Take Time Out

- Andy Hickman.

[Sarah Lada · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book of poetry highly inspired by her life in Africa, it is interesting to see her craft become more practiced with each book she writes. These poems relish in her street life, as well. I particularly liked the poem "Communication I". I find myself having a difficult time writing this review because not many of the poems were very memorable. I can sense her urgency to "write/of lovers false/and hate/and hateful wrath/quickly". I found it difficult to be emotionally involved with this book. When I read many of these poems, I feel like I'm walking into a room long after the action or drama had taken place. I see just a few remains and evidence, but the reasons and story behind the "clang of/lock and/keys and heels/and blood-dried/guns" are left to the reader who would also like to have a brief idea of what this woman's struggle was. I'm curious to read more of her later poetry.

[Betweenthesecoversblog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well is an anthology of thirty six light verse poems. Though I do have my favourites, I didn't quite enjoy every single one. I suppose it's because I do not quite relate to Maya Angelou's poetry writing which I suppose is best when read aloud. Each poem speaks of her experience, her struggles and her identity as an African American Woman and are inspired by moments in her life, making it a deeply personal ensemble of written works. Though beautiful and critically acclaimed, unfortunately I found myself unable to relate.

[Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this collection of poetry in one sitting, and I don’t know if it’s because I’d gotten more used to poetry in general having just read Maya’s ‘Just give me a cool drink of water ‘for I diiie’ (the first poetry I’ve read for over a decade) or if I just felt more attuned to these poems, but there were a lot more that I was drawn to. I particularly liked ‘Poor Girl’, ‘Alone’, ‘Africa’ and the most powerful ‘Take Time Out’. There are some very powerful and philosophical words in this little collection!

[Michael P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Song of the Old Ones” is a brilliant poem. I found nothing else in Angelou’s second book worth reading. There is less of the anger that I liked about her first book, the rhymes are just as trite, poetic conceits seem commonplace and so do the ways she expresses herself, at least most of the time. The thing I like most about this book is that it is short. Either I am blind to something wonderful, or Angelou will blossom into greatness in a latter book.

[Monica Montalti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of older poetry by Maya Angelou. There are 5 sections. I may not understand every one, but her language and imagery is full of emotion. A wordsmith, she plays with the subtleties of language in “The Telephone.” The telephone connects “crocheting other people’s lives.” “Africa “ beckons the reader to note her (Africa’s) history and her ability to rise despite of her struggles. There are poems about love and relationships, family and ones to
challenge the reader.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short and sweet collection is a great introduction to Angelou's poetry. Her words are rhythmic and evocative and lyrics. They are used powerfully but sparingly. I'm really sad I didn't sit down to read her poetry before now. I didn't love every single one, but I at least liked over 3/4ths of them. Highly recommend, even if you're a little poetry-shy.

[Stan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some kind of disconnect when I read Maya Angelou's poetry. When I read Walt Whitman, I want to sell every thing and explore the world. When I read Ginsberg's Howl, I feel like I am junkie roaming the city streets in hunt for drugs. When I read Maya 's poetry , I say that is pretty and turn the page.

[Tawallah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a poetry collection which covers a gamut of topics such as Africa, effects of slavery with the Middle Passage to children boasting about parents and relationships. Poetry seems to be hard to pin down precisely but the play on words and themes were mostly brilliant in my limited knowledge. Will be picking up more poetry to peruse.

[Margaret Sisu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maya Angelou will always be one of my favorite poets, not because of awards she has garnered, but simply because she reaches into the human and female souls and guides her finger unflailingly and unfailing straight to their pulse.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #13 completed for Book Riot Challenge:"A collection of poetry" Maya Angelou is master of words and emotions. This was the most inspiring and beautiful 1 hour's worth of reading (due to many many interruptions and re-reading a few selections that really hit me).

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read any poetry since high school when I use to devour it. This was also my first Maya Angelou.

I have always felt that poetry was something you either liked you or didn't. I really liked this poetry. Some of it I got, some of it I did not. But regardless I enjoyed the read.

[BB · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorites:
-elegy
- child dead in old seas
- song for the old ones
- women me
- artful pose
- for us,who dare not dare
- Africa
- communication 1
- here’s to adhering
- picken em up and layin em down

[Thaomy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The inspiration for a majority of my creative writing in high school. Maya Angelou rocks my world.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this at the library. There were a few poems I liked but overall it just wasn't my cup of tea.