“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou

"Still I Rise"

By Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise

Detailed Summary of the poem, 

Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” is a powerful poem about strength, dignity, and resilience in the face of oppression. The speaker addresses people who try to bring her down—people who lie about her, insult her, or hope to see her broken. Even when she is pushed down emotionally or socially, she refuses to stay defeated. She repeatedly says that she will rise, showing her unshakeable confidence and inner power.

 Angelou uses strong images from nature—like dust rising, the sun and moon returning every day, and ocean waves—to show that her strength is natural, unstoppable, and constant.

The poem also explores how society reacts when a marginalized person dares to be confident. The speaker asks questions like “Does my sassiness upset you?” and “Does my haughtiness offend you?” These lines show that some people are uncomfortable when someone they expect to be weak shows pride or joy. 

The speaker refuses to hide her confidence or lower herself to please others. She boldly claims her own value, saying she has “oil wells,” “gold mines,” and “diamonds” inside her—symbols of self-worth and richness of spirit. This part of the poem shows her emotional wealth and the joy she finds within herself, despite the negativity around her.

In the final part of the poem, Angelou connects the speaker’s personal struggle to the larger history of Black people who endured slavery and racial oppression. She describes coming “from a past that’s rooted in pain,” reminding readers of the suffering experienced by her ancestors. Yet the poem transforms this painful history into a story of survival, courage, and hope.

 By declaring, “I rise,” the speaker becomes a symbol of freedom, renewal, and future possibility. The ending is triumphant: she rises not only for herself, but for all those who came before her and for future generations. The poem closes with a message of liberation, pride, and the unstoppable strength of the human spirit.

 Themes of Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise”.

1. Resilience and Strength

The central theme is the speaker’s ability to rise above pain, discrimination, and mistreatment. No matter how many times she is pushed down, she stands up again with even more strength. Her repeated phrase “I rise” shows determination and unbreakable spirit.

2. Oppression and Injustice

The poem reflects the history of slavery, racism, and the harsh treatment of Black people. The speaker addresses those who oppressed her and tries to silence her. Angelou highlights how society has attempted to crush marginalized communities through lies, hate, and violence

3. Pride and Self-Confidence

The speaker celebrates her own worth boldly. She asks if her confidence bothers others, showing that she refuses to hide her power or beauty. Her confidence becomes a form of resistance. She shows that self-love is a powerful tool against oppression.

4. Defiance Against Hatred

The poem is full of defiance. The speaker refuses to accept society’s expectations for her to be quiet, sad, or weak. Every time others try to humiliate her, she answers with joy, laughter, and strength. Her defiance shows courage and hope.

5. Hope and Freedom

The final part of the poem focuses on rising into a brighter future. The speaker carries the strength of her ancestors and represents a new beginning. Rising symbolizes freedom, progress, and a better life ahead. The poem ends with a feeling of hope and liberation.

6. Feminine Empowerment

Angelou also celebrates the strength of women. The speaker declares her beauty, power, and sexuality in a proud, unapologetic way. She challenges society’s attempts to silence or control women, showing that they, too, will rise.