The Lesson - A poem by Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou - The Lesson

I keep on dying again.
Veins collapse, opening like the
Small fists of sleeping
Children.
Memory of old tombs,
Rotting flesh and worms do
Not convince me against
The challenge. The years
And cold defeat live deep in
Lines along my face.
They dull my eyes, yet
I keep on dying,
Because I love to live.

Share |

Added: Apr 13 2005 | Viewed: 29085 times |

Comments (27)

The Lesson - Comments and Information
Poet: Maya Angelou Poem: The Lesson Poem of the Day: May 12 2012 Comment 27 of 27, added on June 13th, 2012 at 9:45 PM. hi everyone. my name is harry and i am the singer from one direction. if u dont belive me then email me ur twitter name if u have twitter and i will folllw u on my account :) Harry Styles from United Kingdom Comment 26 of 27, added on February 24th, 2012 at 6:22 PM. maya yall stupid maya angelou is grat this poem is not boring lupita from United States Comment 25 of 27, added on May 3rd, 2011 at 10:30 PM. The poem The Lesson is just that, it is a lesson. We are constantly and forever dying, both the cycle of lows and hardships as well as the literal and inevitable progression of life towards its end. But death is as much a part of life as life is, and we cannot be paralyzed by fear of death so that we do not live life. To appreciate what it means to live we must experience, learn from, and go on despite these struggles and mistakes. Thus we can only live and continue to live if we can accept the reality of death. Kyra from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Lesson, has received 27 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own.

Poem Info
Poet: Maya Angelou Poem: The Lesson Last read: 2013-06-19 17:24:13 Poem of the Day: May 12 2012 Viewed 29085 times. Added Apr 13 2005.

Angelou Info
Biography More Poems (20 poems) Maya Angelou books