[.ca] The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou (ISBN 067942895X)

From Amazon.com:
Brought together for the first time here are all of Maya Angelou's published poems -- including "On the Pulse of Morning," her inaugural poem -- in a handsome hardcover edition.

Well...:
I breezed through this one, and I have to say her autobiographies are far superior to her poems. I didn't even have the heart to understand most of them. The style is not exactly what I can call "delicious". I'm just not a fan of Maya when it comes to poetry. BUT I have to say I enjoyed the poems in "I Shall not be Moved". They just contained a different flavor in them. One can easily tell that she had grown when she wrote these ones. (I'm assuming it's her latest of all the other poetry books). Or maybe she just put more effort into it, or perhaps just decided to use a different style. I liked "On the Pulse of Morning" as well.

Phenomenal:
Maya Angelou is both a classic and modern poet simultaneously. The Collected Poems of Maya Angelou satiate the soul with joy and strength, and reflect the wisdom of one for whom neither were givens. Poetry for the "real" world, in all its positive, neutral and negative aspects. Thanks Maya, for having the courage to be real.

Outstanding:
I was given this book as a Christmas present and have gone back to it often. My favorite poem is "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" - I find myself going back to this one time and again. Maya Angelou proves herself as one of the outstanding comtemporary poets today by offering poetry that anyone, regardless of background, color, or creed, can find inspire in. Every woman should have a copy of this book. From the author of The Difference Now.

Most Over-Rated American Poet:
Maya Angelou is a media creation. Her fame is fed by her image rather than her writing. If you'd like to read a GOOD African American female poet check out Rita Dove or Lucile Clifton or Gwendolyn Brooks.

Beautiful, simply beautiful:
Maya Angelou's words absolutely captivate me throughout the series. Each poem opens a new door but reliterate the themes of oppression, struggle, freedom, and so much more. Two particular favorite short poems are The Lesson and Contemporary Announcement. Maya Angelou's continuous effort to live life through music, through dance, through writing reflects in The Lesson. Even though the poem seems rather morbid through the description of "rotting flesh and worms" "old tombs", "veins collapse", in the end it emphasizes the importance of living life and enjoying life until the last breath. So the lesson to be learned from "The Lesson" is to love life and live life. Maya Angelou's past reflects in most of her poems. In "Contemporary Announcement", she portrayed the harshness of living from day to day in the ghettos. The protagonist lives from day to day, from paycheck to paycheck, in its sadness and happiness. When the character has money, the family join together in happiness with "cook the cow" and "ring the big bells". And when there is no money, the family must live in darkness and in fear, that they must "hold your breath" and "take my heart in your hand." Overall, the poem portrays the harshness of the working class which experienced by 80% of Americans.