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.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Maya Angelou's poem A Conceit

19 Comments

  1. chase says:

    i need to do a dumb explication for a conceit. what does it mean line for line

  2. Con Fused says:

    Dear Maya,
    I’m really not sure what this poem is about or what it means.

  3. Christine says:

    I tried to interpret what this poem means. Please feel free to critise.

    Conceit is a state of a self based attitude (its all about me). I think maya is saying that she wants to write a peom based on herself or her personal feelings instead of other people, events and places. She feels a need write about life though Maya’s view rather than facts or truth about reality.

    Christine from St. Lucia, W. I.

  4. krystal says:

    I am doing a speech on you that’s why I am looking you up.can you send me a comment on what i can write for my speech it has to be short. email me back.

  5. zae says:

    Did you like when you were tyler perry

  6. alex says:

    what is the significance between maya’s poems and slavery…..what would be the connection? please help i have to write a thesis for english and i need to know…thanks alot

  7. Terry-Lynn Johnson says:

    May I take Your Hand

    May I take your hand,
    when I know the rage of
    lines that are as dry and temperate
    as my grandmother’s cottons
    on her line with no breeze
    only the hot prairie sun parching
    through the short of midday.
    Or when lines are wet and desolate
    with dark clouds rolling in
    when sheets are whipped by the prairie wind
    — to witness the prairie day when it offers such a change
    leaves you to wonder.
    May I take your hand.

    I wonder, I wonder if the old homestead
    is still standing — or has it been ploughed down
    because of taxes unpaid.
    Is the homestead still standing
    empty, abandoned
    with whatever treasures remained
    antiques and the same sought for heirlooms
    the value thought not by the bearer.
    Empty and abandoned
    is the homestead still standing
    perhaps there is a webbed and dusty preserve
    in the cellar wares.

    May I take your hand and perchance,
    perchance I may visit where my grandmother lays
    the bush and the brine would need clearing away
    with the unkempt small prairie town cementary grave
    in the corner of the deserted plain where no-one remains.
    May I take your hand and perchance,
    perchance I may visit where my grandmother lays
    and clear some of the bush and brine away
    So I may read the monument —
    is life as fleeting as those hyphened years?
    The brine, the salty brine leaves streaks
    down dusty cheeks of rage.
    May I take your hand.

  8. amanda says:

    I oved Every aspect of this poem it had avery great message to us all

  9. Toni says:

    I really like this poem it was very beautiful and really touching.

  10. kiani brown says:

    love your poems

  11. sher says:

    this is short, but beatiful. with a fulfilling meaning. someone emailed me this poem and at first i didn’t understand, but i do now.

  12. KIA says:

    I LOVE AND I HOPE OTHERS WILL TO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  13. Ram says:

    Hi Maya,
    A Conceit is a Short but Wonderful peom with deep meaning. Truly makes you dig deep.

  14. cece says:

    i reember the 1st time i seen maya .i was younger watching sasame street,she came on to do a song with one of the puppets.i can never forget that day

  15. cece says:

    i love all your poems.i’m only 16,and i still can remeber the 1st time i seen you.i was younger watching sesame street when you came on with one of the puppets.
    i love your work

  16. afton says:

    i love ur poem

  17. Gabriella' says:

    This poem is very strong in emotion it tells so much in just a little bit of words. Maya Angelou is my inspiration to life, she allows to see things from all prospect. I love you Maya keep up the good work.

  18. Whittley says:

    the first time i read this poem, i couldnt understand it. After a few times, i finally feel that i understand. I love Maya Angelou and am very inspired by her.

  19. Cocoa says:

    This poem is touching even though it is short. I think about love and many other metaphors that the poem could be talking about. Maya Angelou is a deep poet. She makes you read her poems several times getting a different meaning each time.

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