Phenomenal Woman

This is one of my favorite poems by Maya Angleou.  It always leaves me feeling empowered. I am strong because I am a woman, not despite.  I am feminine, and I find strength in that fact.  I am a feminist, in the sense that I demand respect because I am a woman, and my gender has been helping the world go round nearly as long as men (Adam beats Eve by like a millisecond).  

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies

I'm not cute or built to suit 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.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say, 

It's 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 so much

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 in the arch of my back, 

The sun of 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 in passing

It ought to make you proud.

I say, 

It's in the click of my heels, 

The bend of my hair, 

The palm of my hand, 

The need of my care, 

Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman, 

That's me.

I'm so very blessed that I have a husband who has chosen to be a gentleman in our life.  He walks on the outside of the sidewalk.  He holds the door for me, other women, and the elderly.  He opens my car door.  Not because I am weak or cannot do these things for myself, but because I am a woman, and he respects that.  A man stands when a woman walks in the room not because she is weak, but to show her reverence.  To show that he respects that she is taking her time and choosing to spend it with him.  I wear skirts and dresses, because it tends to remind the men around me that I am a woman, and I deserve a little bit of respect for that fact.  And for women who say men are not like that, I say to you that the other day I had a construction worker (insert stereotype) who held the door for me and when I said thank you, responded with a "you're welcome."  Allow the men in your life the chance to step up, and see what happens.  

I am a phenomenal woman.  And so are each of you.  Show it.  Embrace it.