Women Poem

LITERARY APPRECIATION

Women Poem

MARCH 2021

Introduction

What is your perspective towards the word “woman” ? Some
people may think that “woman” is the weakness. Some say
that “woman” is the holocaust due to an idiom “Pandora’s
Box” which using female’s name to convey the idiom in
negative way. In past, humankind did not equitably respect
women as they did to men. Nowadays, mankind behave
towards women in positive way increasingly. We can see
various protestation of women to their freedom. We can see
many leaders who are females, too. Moreover, we can notice
both abilities and wonderful beauties which can beautify the
world through women as in the impressive poems which we
choose to become the representative of the women
including “A woman speaks” by Audre Lorde, “phenomenal
woman” by Maya Angelou and “perfect woman” by William
Wordsworth.

Phenomenal Woman

By Maya Angelo

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. Men themselves have wondered
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size What they see in me.
But when I start to tell them, They try so much
They think I’m telling lies. But they can’t touch
I say, My inner mystery.
It’s in the reach of my arms, When I try to show them,
The span of my hips, They say they still can’t see.
The stride of my step, I say,
The curl of my lips. It’s in the arch of my back,
I’m a woman The sun of my smile,
Phenomenally. The ride of my breasts,
Phenomenal woman, The grace of my style.
That’s me. I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
I walk into a room Phenomenal woman,
Just as cool as you please, That’s me.
And to a man,
The fellows stand or Now you understand
Fall down on their knees. Just why my head’s not bowed.
Then they swarm around me, I don’t shout or jump about
A hive of honey bees. Or have to talk real loud.
I say, When you see me passing,
It’s the fire in my eyes, It ought to make you proud.
And the flash of my teeth, I say,
The swing in my waist, It’s in the click of my heels,
And the joy in my feet. The bend of my hair,
I’m a woman the palm of my hand,
Phenomenally. The need for my care.
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenal woman, Phenomenally.
That’s me. Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Maya Angelo

Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou is one of the finest poems
published in 1995. Maya Angelou was an American writer and civil
rights activist. Angelou is best known for her many books of poetry
and autobiographies, as well as her active participation in the Civil
Rights Movement, which involved working with Martin Luther King Jr.
and Malcolm X. Maya breaks the stereotypes associated with women
and presents a new definition of a phenomenal woman, who is
beautiful despite her skin color. The poem was originally written to
admire the beauty and self-confidence of a woman. However, since
the time of publication, it has become a popular literary piece on
account of its superb description of an independent colored woman.

Paraphrase the poem

First stanza

Good looking women are curious about Angelou secret. Angelou said
that she is not gorgeous or created to match the size of a beauty
queen. But as she begin to tell her secret to the attractive lady, they
[beautiful woman] believe Angelou is lying. Now Angelou starts to tell
her secret. It is in the length of her [Angelou] arms' reach, the
thickness of her hips, the size of her stride, the shape of her lips.
Angelou perceives herself as a lady. Exceptionally. Amazing lady, the
fact that Angelou is a fantastic woman even though she did not have
arms, the shape of hips, lip's shape,the size of her step like beauty
queen.

Second stanza

She says that whenever she walks into a place that would be just as
great as men like. That place that full of men. The men will stand up
when they see her. Or They will get down on their knees to show
respect to Angelou. After that the men want to get close to her and
want to see her. They flock around her like a hive of honey bees
(which surrounds the queen bee), and she becomes the center of
attention. She start to tell the secrets about her beauty again
She tells she has passion because her eyes were filled with passion
she smiles that make everyone saw her sparkel teeth. The movement in
her waist when she dances, and the happiness in her feet when she
moves them while dancing. Because she is a woman, who is amazing
Outstanding lady. That is her who is amazing and outstanding.

Third stanza

Tha men, like pretty women, contemplated what they notice about her[
Angelou]. They[pretty woman] make such an effort.
However, they are unable to meet up. Her inner glamour [ the secret
beauty of Angelou]. When she try to demonstrate about her secret to
them [the people who wonder about her beauty], they reply they are
still unable to see.
Angelou said, her curved back is the cause of her beauty. Her gleaming
and magnificent smile. Her breasts' rhyming motion (ride). The grace
with which she dresses. Which[all the thing the above] makes her
exceptional lady.
Unparalleled woman, That's who she is.

Fourth stanza

Now the attractive ladies would have realized why she walks with such
assurance. She does not need to make a lot of noise, jump around.
or speak loudly. When she passes by the beautiful women, it makes
them very proud of her. Angelou said, because of the sound of her
heels, the way her hair is styled, the bottom of her hand. Men want to
look after her (a man desires to be caring for a woman) because she is
a pretty amazing woman in her own right. Thus all these qualities
make her become fantastic woman
That is her, Angelou.

Theme

Major Themes in “Phenomenal Woman”: The poem comprises of speaker’s
opinion on woman’s beauty. She refuses the idea that a woman should
possess a beautiful physique. She rejects the stereotype of beauty that
emphasizes the looks instead of inner beauty. She believes that beauty
lies within.

Tone

The tone confirms that the speaker is confident about her looks and her
personality, and she does not care what people think of her. She also
details the qualities needed to be a phenomenal woman.

Poetic devices

Metaphor

The analysis of some of the literary devices used in this poem is
metaphor: there are two metaphors in the poem. First is used in the
second stanza where it is stated, “Then they swarm around me, / A
hive of honey bees.” Maya compares the admiring men with honey
bees. The men surround her, as they are attracted to her. The second
one is used in the eighth line of the second stanza where it is stated,
“it’s the fire in my eyes,” and here she compares her confidence and
passion with fire.

Hyperbole

A hyperbole is used to exaggerate a particular condition or situation.
She has used hyperbole in the start of the second stanza, “I walk into
a room just as cool as you please, / and to a man, A hyperbole is used
to exaggerate a particular condition or situation. Maya has used
hyperbole in the start of the second stanza, “I walk into a room just
as cool as you please, / and to a man, / The fellows stand or fall down
on their knees.” Through this hyperbole, she shows her superiority
over men.

Imagery

The imagery that she used to make readers feel things through their
five senses. She has skillfully created a visual description of a
phenomenal woman who enjoys her beauty and loves being a woman.
The images in this poem are aplenty. The examples of images are: “The
curl of my lips”, “The swing of my waist”, “The ride of my breast”, “The
stride of my steps”, “The flash of my teeth”, “and The palm of my hand.”
The poet has used powerful imagery to describe the body of a woman.
These images help readers to visualize the personality of a strong
woman. Similarly, the poet presents the image of a woman according to
her perception in contrast with the opinion of the world. She beautifully
mocks at the concept of beauty held by most people in the society
which is primarily concerned with external beauty. Hence, she
emphasizes that real beauty comes with inner strength and poise.Maya
has used a personification that means to use emotions for inanimate
objects. She has personified joy in the third stanza of the poem where it
is stated, “the joy in my feet” as if feet are human, and that they
rejoice while dancing or walking. Although most of the poetic devices
are same as the literary devices, a few of them differ, for they highlight
the structure of the poem.

Pattern of the poem

The analysis of some of the prominent poetic devices in the poem is
Stanza,Rhyme Scheme and Repetition. A stanza is a poetic form of some
lines. In this poem, there are four stanzas with each stanza having a
different number of verses.For the rhyme scheme there is no specific
rhyme scheme used in this poem. It is a free verse poem. The meter of
the poem is a combination of Trochee and Iamb which means a
combination of stressed and unstressed syllables or alternately of
unstressed and stressed syllables.

Repetition

Repetition creates musical quality in the poem. The poem has used
repetition at various places such as “The Phenomenal Woman” and
“that’s me.” These two phrases are repeated in each stanza.The analysis
of the poem shows that Maya Angelou’s use of the poetic devices and
unique style has presented herself as a strong, confident, and bold.

Criticized and evaluate the poem

I love this poem because I am a woman and this poems created for
woman especially for woman who is unsure of herself like me. This
poem makes me proud of myself and makes me appreciate myself. But
it is too long for me. I prefer the poem which it is shorter than this
but conclude the content like this poem.

A Woman Speaks

By Audre Lorde

Moon marked and touched by sun
my magic is unwritten
but when the sea turns back
it will leave my shape behind.
I seek no favor
untouched by blood
unrelenting as the curse of love
permanent as my errors
or my pride
I do not mix
love with pity
nor hate with scorn
and if you would know me
look into the entrails of Uranus
where the restless oceans pound.

I do not dwell
within my birth nor my divinities
who am ageless and half-grown
and still seeking
my sisters
witches in Dahomey
wear me inside their coiled cloths
as our mother did
mourning.

I have been woman
for a long time
beware my smile
I am treacherous with old magic
and the noon's new fury
with all your wide futures
promised
I am
woman
and not white.

Audre Lorde

A Woman Speaks written by Audre Lorde, in full Audre Geraldine Lorde,
also called Gamba Adisa or Rey Domini, (born February 18, 1934, New
York, New York, U.S.—died November 17, 1992, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin
Islands). She is one of the famous American poet. Audre Lorde a self-
described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.She dedicated both her
life and her creative talent to confronting and addressing injustices of
racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia (poetry foundation, n.d.).

Paraphrase the poem

First Stanza

A Woman Speaks‘s first two lines established the subject of the piece.
“Moon marked and touched by sun/ my magic is unwritten”. These lines
bring attention to how black women are perceived as both unearthly,
goddess-like beings described in Jazz and many other art forms that
praise their features and beauty, yet at the same time, their history is
mostly forgotten. She calls attention to a need for understanding and
action rather than feelings of remorse for this erasure in lines 10
through 12, “I do not mix /love with pity /nor hate with scorn”. She
expresses a sense of being unknown by others. The voicelessness she
describes can be attributed to the historical discriminated against
women in the workplace and lacking political representation for queer
women in the context of late the 70’s through the early 90’s American
society when Audre Lorde was an activist and poet.

Second Stanza

A Woman Speaks calls upon a reoccurring theme throughout her many
pieces that draw attention to the strange position of women of color
as both too strong and also underestimated. An important reference is
made in the sixth line of the “witches in Dahomey.” Dahomey is
another iconic piece by the same author named for the 14th-century
African kingdom infamous for their fierce women warriors. Calling
them witches is meant to illustrate how their strength is seen as evil,
otherworldly, and positions them as outsiders. This stanza beckons the
memory of generations of strong women who continue to seek a
balance between strength and vulnerability. She connects herself to
this history of warrior women stating that they “ wear me inside their
coiled clothes”. She bends time, obscuring its linear form to position
herself in the world of the Dahomey, then back again to her mother,
and then to her own experience. This represents the oneness Audre
feels with her ancestors and her elders.

Third Stanza

The common archetype of the seductress is used in this last stanza
reinforces the nuances between the common feminist critique of
patriarchal society and what Lorde views as a missing piece of the
feminist movement; its uplifting of black women. “Beware my smile/I
am treacherous with old magic”. Rather than a true warning, I read
these lines as a declaration of mysterious power, with a hint of
sarcasm to dismantle the idea of the black woman as dangerous. She
seems to long for a “wide future” in six, yet her last six words: “ I am
/woman/ and not white,” act to boldly present herself as different, out
of the reach of this “promise” but and still, a woman, engaged in
similar struggles for equality, yet to be realized.

Theme

For the central idea of the poem, The author talks about the idea that
black woman is never given a chance to shine in society whether they
are alive or dead, they are not cared about. Black woman is not treated
with the respect they deserves. At the end of the poem “I am woman
and not white”, Lorde was trying to provide a sense of strength. She
tries to portray the difficulty she has endure being both African
American and a woman. With both of those categories being
discriminated against at this time, she seems to be trying to prove the
point that as an African American woman, she is standing strong as
should others.

Tone

The tone of the poem are recalcitrant pride and ambitious.

Poetic devices

Personification

“my magic is unwritten” the word unwritten personified magic.
“but when the sea turns back” the word turns back personified the sea.

Allusion

“witches in Dahomey” Dahomey is another iconic piece by the same
author named for the 14th-century African kingdom infamous for their
fierce women warriors (Dixon, n.d.).

Criticized and evaluate the poem

In my point of view, I prefer a woman speak poem because it is one of
poems that transports a powerful message about the lives of black
women whose voices have often been neglected.A woman speak is a
highly inspirational poem for other women to get a better treat and
having the same opportunities in society as men.

Perfect woman

By William Wordsworth

She was a phantom of delight
When first she gleam’d upon my sight;
A lovely apparition, sent
To be a moment’s ornament;
Her eyes as stars of twilight fair;
Like twilight’s, too, her dusky hair;
But all things else about her drawn
From Maytime and the cheerful dawn;
A dancing shape, an image gay,
To haunt, to startle, and waylay.

I saw her upon nearer view,
A Spirit, yet a Woman too!
Her household motions light and free,
And steps of virgin liberty;
A countenance in which did meet
Sweet records, promises as sweet;
A creature not too bright or good
For human nature’s daily food;
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.

And now I see with eye serene
The very pulse of the machine;
A being breathing thoughtful breath,
A traveller between life and death;
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;
A perfect Woman, nobly plann’d,
To warm, to comfort, and command;
And yet a Spirit still, and bright
With something of angelic light.

William Wordsworth

Perfect Woman’ is a romantic poem by William Wordsworth, who rallied
for "common speech" within poems and argued against the poetic
biases of the period, wrote some of the most influential poetry in
Western literature, including his most famous work, The Prelude, which
is often considered to be the crowning achievement of English
romanticism. William Wordsworth(7 April 1770 – 23 April 1850) was an
English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to
launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint
publication Lyrical Ballads (1798) (Wikipedia, n.d.).

Paraphrase the poem

He describes her first as an ideally beautiful woman, then a pleasant
companion and a housewife and finally as an intellectual and moral being
who is capable of guiding him. Beginning with a distant view that offers
an illusion, he closes up to a more realistic and spiritual view of his wife.

First stanza

In the first stanza she is described as a phantom, which is an illusion. Her
eyes are compared to the evening stars, which are impossible to obtain.
Similarly her hair is also described as dark as the dusk. It highlights her
mysterious quality.

Second stanza

Then the poet idealizes her. In order to create her beauty the creator
collected all things "From May time and the cheerful dawn". Like a
phantom she haunts, startles and waylays the poet. After their
marriage, the poet gets a nearer view of her. He finds her to be a good
housewife. She works hard and satisfies her husband. She is not an
extraordinary person. She possesses all the human qualities, but not to
an extreme degree.

third stanza

Finally, she proves herself to be a perfect woman. She is said to be a
machine because the several aspects of her personality (The reason
firm, the temperate will, endurance, foresight, strength, and skill) work
together efficiently. Because of these qualities she is capable of
guiding the poet.

Theme

The theme of the poem is love and admiration.

Tone

The tone of the poem is calm and amorous.

Setting

She Was a Phantom of Delight doesn’t describe a particular setting, as
it focuses on hyperbolic descriptions made by the lyrical voice.
Furthermore, Wordsworth utilizes alliteration in order to create an
aural effect and to emphasize the softness of the woman that the
lyrical voice depicts.

Poetic devices

Metaphor

The poet has used similes and metaphors to describe her more clearly.
“A phantom of delight” “a lovely apparition”, “the machine” and “a
traveler between life and death” are examples of metaphor.

Simile

"her eyes as stars of twilight fair, like twilight’s too, her dusky hair”
are examples of simile.

Personification

Moreover, it uses objectification, which is the opposite of personification,
to describe the woman who is the poem's subject. In personification, an
animal or object is given human characteristics. In objectification, a
human is assigned non-human attributes. The poem's narrator objectifies
the female subject as a ghost, calling her an "apparition," a "phantom,"
and a "Spirit." He also likens her to an "image," a "Creature" and a
"machine," all non-human items. The poem entitled" She was a Phantom
of Delight" also called Perfect Woman". The poem applies feminism
approach because it talks about the beauty. It mainly talks about a
perfect kind of woman, At the same time, it also talks about her lovely
wife, about the characterization, the beauty, and how precious of having
a perfect woman. It is all about having a good personality of a woman
and how special they are.

Criticized and evaluate the poem

William Wordsworth is one of the most famous romantic poets. In my
point of view, this poetry describes the advantages of woman not only
beauty, but she has many abilities. William Wordsworth used euphoric
words to convey meaning that makes me feel the perfection of woman.

Conclusion

After we have read all three chapters. We believe that the
perspective you have about women will change. You will feel
the definition of women who have been said. "Female is a
weak gender " is not always true. Because in the poetry that
have been mentioned showed that in addition to being
beautiful, women are more capable than you think. They are
able to work outside the home as well as men. And in the
meantime, when she is at home, she was able to perform her
duties perfectly. Even in the past they were perceived as
weak, that is not because they are just strong now, it is
because in the past they were completely overlooked, With
their humble personality, they were judged for weakness.

Reference

Phenomenal Woman

- literary devices, Phenomenal Woman.(n.d.). Retrieved
from https://literarydevices.net/phenomenal-woman/

A Woman Speaks

- Audre Lorde. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/audre-lorde
- Dixon, B. (n.d.). A Woman Speaks by Audre Lorde.
Retrieved from https://poemanalysis.com/audre-
lorde/a-woman-speaks/
- Zhang, H. (2013, February 5). A Woman Speaks, by
Audre Lorde. Retrieved from
https://prezi.com/pylslbsivh7w/a-woman-speaks-by-
audre-lorde/
- Poem- "A Woman Speaks" by Audre Lorde. (2012,
March 29). Retrieved from
https://msknarrbooknook.proboards.com/thread/36/poe
m-woman-speaks-audre-lorde

Perfect Woman

- Abella, J. (2017, May). She Was a Phantom of Delight
by William Wordsworth. Retrieved from
https://poemanalysis.com/william-wordsworth/she-was-
a-phantom-of-delight/
- Sharma, K.N. (2013, November 20). She was a Phantom
of Delight by William Wordsworth: Summary and
Critical Analysis. Retrieved from
https://www.bachelorandmaster.com/britishandamerica
npoetry/she-was-a-phantom-of-
delight.html#.YGIBdlNtdPw

-What literary devices are used in the poem "She Was a
Phantom of Delight" by Wordsworth? Is there
personification, alliteration, or imagery?.(2015,
November 14).
Retrieved from
https://newhelpnotes.blogspot.com/2015/11/what-
literary-devices-are-used-in-poem.html?m=1

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