Still I Rise
... “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou is a poem in which she symbolizes how despite the hardships and oppression she experienced during her youth she rose above the agony and anguish that beset her. This poem is a favorite of mine because I see a reflection of myself being portrayed striving to overcome a troubled past. I see myself as I read: “Out of the huts of history’s shame (29-32) I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise” People often live their lives according to the expectations that are set by society. ... In those days, I recall the early nights when my two sisters and I fought over cover, while my mom sat diligently at her Singer sewing machine so we’d each have a new ensemble to wear for the first day of school. ... ” (5), here I relate at that point in the poem, as my sisters and I didn’t see our clothing as meager, we looked good and they were the best, more special than any Tommy Hilfiger outfit from Boston Store.