Beloved,
In what other lives or lands
Have I known your lips
Your Hands
Your Laughter brave
Irreverent.
Those sweet excesses that
I do adore.
What surety is there
That we will meet again,
On other worlds some
Future time undated.
I defy my body’s haste.
Without the promise
Of one more sweet encounter
I will not deign to die.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Maya Angelou's poem Refusal

4 Comments

  1. safraa says:

    this poem is so beautiful..yet a bit sad.she is wondering if she could meet him again in the future.it’s about love and about misery of being far away from her love one..my favorite!!

  2. Molly M. J. says:

    I under stand this poem very well!! It is a nice poem and 1 of my favorites!!

  3. avera williams says:

    This is a poem that a woman can relate to in life. The refusal of ones time, affections and love can be hard. But if we try one day the tables maybe turned and love will be shared.

  4. Bongi says:

    I thought it was a gorgeous poem. I totally related to it, i met someone from another who changed my life in two weeks, i fell inlove…but i still wonder if i’ll ever see him again. I’m grateful for the experience.Thank you Maya for articulating it for me.

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