10 Poems by Maya Angelou About Love: The Intricacies of Emotion

Poems by Maya Angelou about Love

Maya Angelou’s poetry about love is some of the most beautiful and moving work ever written on the subject. Her words capture the essence of what it means to love and be loved, and her poems are a testament to the power of love in our lives.

Poems by Maya Angelou About Love
Maya Angelou, photo from Poem Analysis

Poems by Maya Angelou about love are some of the most beautiful and moving poems ever written. Her words capture the essence of love in all its forms, from the gentle love of a mother for her child to the deep and abiding love between two people who have been together for a lifetime.

Her poems about love are filled with emotion and passion, and they will touch your heart in a way that few other poets can.

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Maya Angelou poems about love and marriage

Maya Angelou’s poems about love and marriage explore the complexities of these relationships. She often uses metaphors and symbolism to convey the deep emotions involved in these bonds. Her poems offer a unique perspective on love and marriage, and her writing style is both powerful and moving.

Passing Time

Your skin like dawn
Mine like musk

One paints the beginning
of a certain end.

The other, the end of a
sure beginning.


Touched By An Angel

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.


Alone

Lying, thinking, last night
how to find my soul a home
where water is not thirsty,
and bread loaf is not stone,
I came up with one thing
and I don’t believe I’m wrong,
that nobody,
but nobody
can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
nobody, but nobody
can make it out here alone.

There are some millionaires
with money they can’t use,
their wives run round like banshees,
their children sing the blues,
they’ve got expensive doctors
to cure their hearts of stone.
But nobody
no, nobody
can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
nobody, but nobody
can make it out here alone.

Now if you listen closely
I’ll tell you what I know:
Storm clouds are gathering
the wind is gonna blow,
the race of man is suffering
and I can hear the moan,
’cause nobody,
but nobody
can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
nobody, but nobody
can make it out here alone.


Touched

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.


Unconditional love Maya Angelou mother poem

The poem “Unconditional Love” by Maya Angelou is a touching tribute to mothers everywhere. The speaker conveys the deep love and appreciation she has for her own mother, and all that her mother has done for her.

The speaker reflects on how her mother’s unconditional love has always been a source of strength and comfort, no matter what life has thrown her way. This poem is a beautiful reminder of the power of a mother’s love, and how it can transcend all obstacles.

Son to Mother

I start no
wars, raining poison
on cathedrals,
melting Stars of David
into golden faucets
to be lighted by lamps
shaded by human skin.

I set no
store on the strange lands,
send no
missionaries beyond my
borders,
to plunder secrets
and barter souls.

They
say you took my manhood,
Momma.
Come sit on my lap
and tell me,
what do you want me to say
to them, just
before I annihilate
their ignorance ?


Mother, A Cradle To Hold Me

It is true
I was created in you.
It is also true
That you were created for me.
I owned your voice.
It was shaped and tuned to soothe me.
Your arms were molded
Into a cradle to hold me, to rock me.
The scent of your body was the air
Perfumed for me to breathe.

Mother,
During those early, dearest days
I did not dream that you had
A large life which included me,
For I had a life
Which was only you.

Time passed steadily and drew us apart.
I was unwilling.
I feared if I let you go
You would leave me eternally.
You smiled at my fears, saying
I could not stay in your lap forever.

That one day you would have to stand
And where would I be?
You smiled again.
I did not.
Without warning you left me,
But you returned immediately.
You left again and returned,
I admit, quickly,
But relief did not rest with me easily.
You left again, but again returned.
You left again, but again returned.
Each time you reentered my world
You brought assurance.
Slowly I gained confidence.

You thought you know me,
But I did know you,
You thought you were watching me,
But I did hold you securely in my sight,
Recording every moment,
Memorizing your smiles, tracing your frowns.
In your absence
I rehearsed you,
The way you had of singing
On a breeze,
While a sob lay
At the root of your song.

The way you posed your head
So that the light could caress your face
When you put your fingers on my hand
And your hand on my arm,
I was blessed with a sense of health,
Of strength and very good fortune.

You were always
the heart of happiness to me,
Bringing nougats of glee,
Sweets of open laughter.

During the years when you knew nothing
And I knew everything, I loved you still.
Condescendingly of course,
From my high perch
Of teenage wisdom.
I grew older and
Was stunned to find
How much knowledge you had gleaned.
And so quickly.

Mother, I have learned enough now
To know I have learned nearly nothing.
On this day
When mothers are being honored,
Let me thank you
That my selfishness, ignorance, and mockery
Did not bring you to
Discard me like a broken doll
Which had lost its favor.
I thank you that
You still find something in me
To cherish, to admire and to love.

I thank you, Mother.
I love you.


The Mothering Blackness

She came home running
back to the mothering blackness
deep in the smothering blackness
white tears icicle gold plains of her face
She came home running

She came down creeping
here to the black arms waiting
now to the warm heart waiting
rime of alien dreams befrosts her rich brown face
She came down creeping

She came home blameless
black yet as Hagar’s daughter
tall as was Sheba’s daughter
threats of northern winds die on the desert’s face
She came home blameless


Maya Angelou on love and courage

Maya Angelou’s thoughts on love and courage are quite profound. She believes that love is something that should be cherished and never taken for granted. She also believes that courage is something that everyone should aspire to have. Her words are quite inspirational and offer a great deal of wisdom.

A Conceit

Give me your hand

Make room for me
to lead and follow
you
beyond this rage of poetry.

Let others have
the privacy of
touching words
and love of loss
of love.

For me
Give me your hand.


Remembrance

Your hands easy
weight, teasing the bees
hived in my hair, your smile at the
slope of my cheek. On the
occasion, you press
above me, glowing, spouting
readiness, mystery rapes
my reason

When you have withdrawn
your self and the magic, when
only the smell of your
love lingers between
my breasts, then, only
then, can I greedily consume
your presence.


When You Come

When you come to me, unbidden,
Beckoning me
To long-ago rooms,
Where memories lie.

Offering me, as to a child, an attic,
Gatherings of days too few.
Baubles of stolen kisses.
Trinkets of borrowed loves.
Trunks of secret words,

I CRY.


Final thoughts on poems by Maya Angelou about love

In conclusion, poems by Maya Angelou about love are some of the most beautiful and compelling pieces of literature ever written. Her words flow together like a river of emotion, carrying the reader along on a journey of love, loss, and hope.

If you haven’t read her work, I highly encourage you to do so. You won’t be disappointed.

Bentinck is a bestselling author in Caribbean and Latin American Poetry, he is a multifaceted individual who excels as both an artist and educator.

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