Dear Ms. Angelou,
I was searching for great poetry that's inspiring to millions of people. As an African American, I relate to your poetry and identify with the meaning. Your verses transform black pride into words. The strong morals and colorful description altered my way of thinking about life and the choices I face. Your poetry opened my eyes so that I can write my own poems.
There are many great poems in your book And Still I Rise, but three of them really stand out in the crowd. "Thank You Lord" says that life shouldn't be taken for granted. When you described the Lord as an African American leader, it brought new purpose to me and made me think about the Lord in new ways. I feel empowered being at church now because His words are living!
"One More Round" is about being free. Just like you, Ms. Angelou, I'm willing to do the work but I would like the same recognition. A slave is somebody who has nothing to live for. As a security guard, I'm a hard-working person who doesn't mind getting dirty, as long as I am being treated with respect.
Your poem “And Still I Rise” is the most wonderful treat to behold. You won't let anything keep you down. Neither will I. Society handed me a high school diploma but my reading and writing are not as good as I want. I'm not happy because I know I can do a lot more. I am going to stand up and be accountable for my actions and get a better education.
Ultimately, reading your book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and especially your poetry in And Still I Rise brought tears to my eyes. Reading these books gave me the responsibility to learn more about African American history.
Searching for ways to improve my state of mind, I discovered your writings, but I was expecting to be bored out of my mind. When I opened the book, I felt liberated with the knowledge that I obtained! You inspired me to try to compose a poem that would touch other people. So I wrote a poem about a young man setting a bad example and learning how to change his life. I hope it's okay that I'm sending you a copy.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I hope you will enjoy my poem “Living on the Edge” also.
Sincerely, your friend and fellow poet,
DéMarcus R. Johnson
P.S. Thank you for reminding me and billions of people to follow our dreams.
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