Our Grandmothers Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDE FGH IEJKL MNMMOPMOQRPST H UVWXYTTTT H ZTA2B2A2RC2 H D2TE2F2G2H2NI2 H J2ZZOK2L2NK2WCK2 M2N2T H O2K2P2K2LQ2NR2S2 T2U2ZV2C W2E2X2 Y2YT Z2A3K2E2YYY K2B3K2C3K2D3K2E3F3G3 H3K2TYB I3K2K2J3K2Z H

She lay skin down in the moist dirtA
the canebrake rustlingB
with the whispers of leaves andC
loud longing of hounds andC
the ransack of hunters crackling the nearD
branchesE
-
She muttered lifting her head a nod towardF
freedomG
I shall not I shall not be movedH
-
-
She gathered her babiesI
their tears slick as oil on black facesE
their young eyes canvassing mornings of madnessJ
Momma is Master going to sell youK
from us tomorrowL
-
-
YesM
Unless you keep walking moreN
and talking lessM
YesM
Unless the keeper of our livesO
releases me from all commandmentsP
YesM
And your livesO
never mine to liveQ
will be executed upon the killing floor ofR
innocentsP
Unless you match my heart and wordsS
saying with meT
-
-
I shall not be movedH
-
-
In Virginia tobacco fieldsU
leaning into the curveV
of SteinwayW
pianos along Arkansas roadsX
in the red hills of GeorgiaY
into the palms of her chained hands sheT
cried against calamityT
You have tried to destroy meT
and though I perish dailyT
-
-
I shall not be movedH
-
-
Her universe oftenZ
summarized into one black bodyT
falling finally from the tree to her feetA2
made her cry each time into a new voiceB2
All my past hastens to defeatA2
and strangers claim the glory of my loveR
Iniquity has bound me to his bedC2
-
-
yet I must not be movedH
-
-
She heard the namesD2
swirling ribbons in the wind of historyT
nigger nigger bitch heiferE2
mammy property creature ape baboonF2
whore hot tail thing itG2
She said But my description cannotH2
fit your tongue forN
I have a certain way of being in this worldI2
-
-
and I shall not I shall not be movedH
-
-
No angel stretched protecting wingsJ2
above the heads of her childrenZ
fluttering and urging the winds of reasonZ
into the confusions of their livesO
The sprouted like young weedsK2
but she could not shield their growthL2
from the grinding blades of ignorance norN
shape them into symbolic topiariesK2
She sent them awayW
underground overland in coaches andC
shoelessK2
-
-
When you learn teachM2
When you get giveN2
As for meT
-
-
I shall not be movedH
-
-
She stood in midocean seeking dry landO2
She searched God's faceK2
AssuredP2
she placed her fire of serviceK2
on the altar and thoughL
clothed in the finery of faithQ2
when she appeared at the temple doorN
no sign welcomedR2
Black Grandmother Enter hereS2
-
-
Into the crashing soundT2
into wickedness she criedU2
No one no nor no one millionZ
ones dare deny me God I go forthV2
along and stand as ten thousandC
-
-
The Divine upon my rightW2
impels me to pull foreverE2
at the latch on Freedom's gateX2
-
-
The Holy Spirit upon my left leads myY2
feet without ceasing into the camp of theY
righteous and into the tents of the freeT
-
-
These momma faces lemon yellow plum purpleZ2
honey brown have grimaced and twistedA3
down a pyramid for yearsK2
She is Sheba the SojournerE2
Harriet and ZoraY
Mary Bethune and AngelaY
Annie to ZenobiaY
-
-
She standsK2
before the abortion clinicB3
confounded by the lack of choicesK2
In the Welfare lineC3
reduced to the pity of handoutsK2
Ordained in the pulpit shieldedD3
by the mysteriesK2
In the operating roomE3
husbanding lifeF3
In the choir loftG3
holding God in her throatH3
On lonely street cornersK2
hawking her bodyT
In the classroom loving theY
children to understandingB
-
-
Centered on the world's stageI3
she sings to her loves and belovedsK2
to her foes and detractorsK2
However I am perceived and deceivedJ3
however my ignorance and conceitsK2
lay aside your fears that I will be undoneZ
-
-
for I shall not be movedH

Maya Angelou



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