The Click in my Heels (A Girl's Guide to the World)

None of the following is original--I am entirely indebted to Maya Angelou for the substance and meaning in this poem. All I have performed is a tailor's craft. The original poem, "Phenomenal Woman", was long, and though it encompassed many of my thoughts about womanhood and self-identification, I felt as though I could communicate those same thoughts with mere fragments of her piece. I dared to take a work of art, cut it up and patch it up again (how fortunate that not enough people will read this to spur any real outrage). This is my shorter version of Maya's masterpiece, with, perhaps, the same intent--only in fewer words. I admit that my piece breathes less artistry than hers but it is a mere expression of my own sentiments. So, without further ado:

A Reconstruction of Maya: Phenomenal Woman

I'm a woman.

Phenomenally. 

Phenomenal woman, that's me. 

Now you understand

Just why my head's not bowed,

'Cause I'm a woman,

phenomenally. 

Phenomenal woman,

that's me.