Still you rise

Hello beautiful people,

Happy easter!!! 

I'm not writing anything today but this poem has been on my mind alot lately, so, I thought it best to share it with you all! I hope it encourages you as Christains all over the world celebrate the rising of Jesus Christ today.  

 Photo credit: www.poetryfoundation.com

You may write me down in history 
With your bitter, twisted lies, 
You may tread me in the very dirt 
But still, like dust, I'll rise. 

Does my sassiness upset you? 
Why are you beset with gloom? 
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells 
Pumping in my living room. 

Just like moons and like suns, 
With the certainty of tides, 
Just like hopes springing high, 
Still I'll rise. 

Did you want to see me broken? 
Bowed head and lowered eyes? 
Shoulders falling down like teardrops. 
Weakened by my soulful cries. 

Does my haughtiness offend you? 
Don't you take it awful hard 
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines 
Diggin' in my own back yard. 

You may shoot me with your words, 
You may cut me with your eyes, 
You may kill me with your hatefulness, 
But still, like air, I'll rise. 

Does my sexiness upset you? 
Does it come as a surprise 
That I dance like I've got diamonds 
At the meeting of my thighs? 

Out of the huts of history's shame 
I rise 
Up from a past that's rooted in pain 
I rise 
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, 
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. 
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear 
I rise 
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear 
I rise 
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, 
I am the dream and the hope of the slave. 
I rise 
I rise 
I rise.

by Maya Angelou

Have a wonderful day or evening!!

With all my love,

Dara Rhodes

Give what you get and teach.

26 June 2014 18:44

I haven't written on here in a while because I've been mourning Maya Angelou. Well, kinda. I know she died a while back now but that woman was phenomenonal and so I wasn't going to write anything till I had written the perfect tribute. 

True to form, about a million words and a thousand poems later, I realised something. The fact that she was one of my inspirations is tribute enough. She taught me to give and teach and as my one year work experience is slowly coming to an end, I'm beginning to see just how invaluable those lessons are.

At first or in May, I became apprehensive about leaving CNBC. I know I have to leave but it had become a huge part of my life  and the feeling that I wasn't going to be needed anymore the moment I left was quite frankly, heart breaking. Worst part? They had already brought in a new intern and asked me to teach her all I do. I'm not even going to lie, that was heart wrenching. After giving my absolute best everyday this year, I felt used and tired till I remembered Maya Angelou. 

Give what you get and teach. Two simple principles, Maya Angelou taught me. 

Thank you Maya for your words and rest in peace.

 “When you learn, teach, when you get, give.” 

With all my love,

Dara Rhodes.