A MEMORIAL CELEBRATION FOR

Maya Angelou

APR 4

1928- MAY 28 2014

“AHNAH”WISDOM, AFFECTION & LOVE

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Celebrated memoirist and poet Maya Angelou, 86, passed away at her home in Winston-Salem, N.C., on May 28th 2014. Maya Angelou’s birth name was Marguerite Annie Johnson, and she was fluent in 6 languages. Affectionately referred to as Dr. Angelou, the professor never went to college.

Dr. Angelou has received over 50 honorary degrees and was Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.

Dr. Angelou lived a life of many careers and passions. She wrote 36 books. She was an actress, director, composer, singer, playwright and a dancer. She once worked as a madam in a brothel. She was also the first female and first black streetcar conductor in San Francisco.

Maya was a friend and mentor to many, including Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Oprah Win-frey.

One of Dr. Angelou’s prized quotes is “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

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Remembering Maya Angelou

The free bird leapson the back of the windand floats downstreamtill the current endsand dips his wingsin the orange sun raysand dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalksdown his narrow cagecan seldom see throughhis bars of ragehis wings are clipped andhis feet are tiedso he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird singswith fearful trillof the things unknownbut longed for stilland his tune is heardon the distant hillfor the caged birdsings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breezeand the trade winds soft through the sighing treesand the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawnand he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreamshis shadow shouts on a nightmare screamhis wings are clipped and his feet are tiedso he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird singswith a fearful trillof things unknownbut longed for stilland his tune is heardon the distant hillfor the caged birdsings of freedom.

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I know why the caged bird sings...

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” - Maya Angelou5

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“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” - Maya Angelou

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“If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.” - Maya Angelou