I'll Rise
Sunday Letter #73
Happy Sunday, everyone.
I hope you had a wonderful week, and are able to take a breath this day.
Earlier this week, I watched the below portion of an interview between Mavis Nicholson and Maya Angelou, and it made me reflect a lot on myself.
Mostly, it made me wonder where Maya got her confidence from. Her sense of strong, rooted, grounded, humble, gentle, kind, firm, unwavering, and centered confidence. It emanated from her — just like her strong sense of self. I have one of her books, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and I’ve read about half of it. I’ll get back to reading it soon (I’ll be starting from the beginning).
Watching the above clip also reminded me of Maya Angelou’s famous poem, “Still I Rise.” I’ll leave it here.
-
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.
-
Sending my love,
Christina
My belly dancing lessons.
Playing Sudoku. I used to play from time to time a while ago, but stopped. I’ve started again, on an app, but now I’ll be deleting the app (the free version has too many ads), and getting a physical book.
Watching crows fly across the sunset sky.
Taking videos for my newest reel.
Nathaniel Drew’s latest video showcasing his backyard transformation — a part of the larger transformation of a 175-year-old house he bought in the French countryside a year ago. I’ve watched his videos for 6 years now; he’s definitely been one of my favorite creators on YouTube.
Spending time with my niece, who had a sleepover here for the past two nights.
Trying yellow watermelon for the first time!
Thank you so much for being here! Your presence means so much to me.
If my words have inspired or helped you, please consider supporting me by:
subscribing to my newsletter and/or sharing it with others
‘hearting’ this post and/or leaving a comment
What a great update, thought it was just this incredible poem, but there was more! so I thought I should respond like this;
Er wow… that’s why Maya Angelou is so popular then 😮💨
A poem
--------
You are a diamond
in the rough
Iridescent, seen through
gurgling mountain waters
And that’s enough
--------------------------
“There’s a Sudoku game on his phone, except it’s password protected, and I don’t think it’s a Sudoku game..”
Devs.
I live next to a C15 Church which was built during The War of The Roses, an extended family of crows live around here and perch on the top of the tower, keeping watch. I leave them the seeds and nuts from my granola which I don’t like.
Look forward to your next reel, you’re good at this
🐾