The Maya Angelou Poetry Collection

Gr 9 Up-Maya Angelous poems speak strongly in print, but hearing the author perform her own work is a pleasure not to be missed. The poet literally performs her poems. Her melodious voice sings the spirituals, delivers heart-felt dedications and shares the roots or histories upon which some of these poems are derived. This four-cassette collection treats us to 115 minutes of readings covering 106 poems. The versatility of Maya Angelous voices delights as she uses a syncopated rhythm to deliver poems enhanced by this beat: Harlem Hopscotch, Pickin Up and Layin em Down, Baby and Times Square Shoe Shine. Maya Angelou takes us back to the bitter historical past in poems based upon classic Negro spirituals such as Just Give me a Cool Drink of Water fore I Die and to the somber, slow refrains of To a Freedom Fighter. In other poems, Maya Angelou reveals a more personal and intimate side in poems such as Come be My Baby and He Said He Loved Another. Dr. Angelou shares the historical roots and associations she drew upon to create her Inaugural Poem On the Pulse of Morning delivered on January 20, 1993 at President Clintons inauguration. This rare glimpse into the poets process is a treasure for introducing young adults to the poetic process. Some explicit language requires previewing before school use. A complete listing of poems and times would be appreciated to locate titles of particular interest. You will be drawn to listen to this collection over and over again.