“Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise”
More from Maya Angelou
“The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.”
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
“It's one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.”
“You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your…”