60. Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now - Maya Angelou

This is a beautiful collection of short, inspirational pieces by poet Maya Angelou. Angelou shares her thoughts on topics like morality, perseverance, friendship, love, and manners, and weaves in her own life experiences.
This passage epitomizes the theme throughout the book:

"...by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try to understand each other, we may even become friends."

One of my favorite pieces is called "Getups":

"If I am comfortable inside my skin, I have the ability to make other people comfortable inside their skins although their feelings are not my primary reason for making my fashion choice ... then I am so comfortable that whatever I wear looks good on me even to the external fashion arbiters .... Seek the fashion which truly fits and befits you. You will always be in fashion if you are true to yourself, and only if you are true to yourself."

Reading this book reminded me of when I took Dr. Angelou's class at Wake Forest ... and how whenever we would beg her to read to us one of her poems, she would make sure that we weren't following along in our books because she would always change the words!
This was a beautiful, quick read - a great gift idea, as well.

18. Phenomenal Woman: A Collection of Poems Celebrating Women - Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou's poetry is always inspiring. This collection of her poetry has classics that celebrate women, including one of my favorites - "Phenomenal Woman" - as well as "Still I Rise," "Weekend Glory," and "Our Grandmothers." The words in these poems can inspire any woman, regardless of race or age. A great gift idea!

"Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
The palm of my hand,
The need of my care.
'Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me."

17. The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey - Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali continuously amazes me. This was a great book - it was a combination of an autobiography and a book about spirituality. It's structured almost like a scrapbook (with complete paragraphs, of course), and has subchapters with his reflections, poetry, anecdotes, and various quotes.
In this book, Ali talks about his life and the lessons he learned along the way. It was so touching when he apologized to Joe Frazier for the things he said about him before Thrilla in Manila; and to Malcolm X for turning his back on him when Malcolm X wanted to part ways from Elijah Muhammad. [sidenote: it's interesting that he didn't apologize to his second wife, Belinda Ali, for publicly humiliating her by carrying on his affair with Veronica Porsche and bringing her to the Philippines and introducing her as his wife ... ] Ali also talks about his refusal to report for the draft during Vietnam; his nine (yes, nine) children; and his decision to become Muslim.
I liked this quote:

"The key to peace of heart and mind is approaching life not with a determination to gain wealth and fame for comfort and glory in this life, but rather with a goal of realizing spiritual development. If you keep a positive mind and an optimistic outlook on life, negativity loses its power to make you unhappy. God's love is universal. He is with us always. Let Him guide you and you will never be lost."

No matter which path we choose to worship God, some lessons are truly universal.

11. The Prophet - Kahlil Gibran

The Prophet is a simply beautiful book of poetry, written as a story about a mysterious "prophet" who is leaving a place and wishes to offer the people gifts; but instead offers them his knowledge on many different topics, including love, marriage, children, pain, and freedom. There are so many lessons to be learned from this poetry, although much of it seems very simple. When a friend is going through a hard time, this is one of those books that you can pick up and find something beautiful and supportive to share with him or her. From "On Pain":

"Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.
And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;
And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.
And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.
Much of your pain is self-chosen.
It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.
Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquillity:
For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,
And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears."

One thing I do not understand is the selection entitled "On Marriage" ...

"You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow."

It sounds beautiful. But I was troubled when I saw the author's drawing that went with this piece.

Maybe I'm interpreting it wrong ... but why is there a naked woman in the foreground of the painting? Is she supposed to represent the "winds of the heaven"? If so - why do they have to be in the form of a naked woman? And why isn't she coming from the skies, or from heaven - why is she coming from the ground? To me, it looks like the woman is interrupting the marriage; like Gibran is saying to maintain your individuality and not be so wrapped into each other, and so it's okay if you cheat on your wife. How else could I interpret that drawing?

6. The Moments, the Minutes, the Hours: The Poetry of Jill Scott - Jill Scott

This isn't something I normally would have picked up - but great recommendation, Megan! Jill Scott's poetry is moving like her music, and touches on everything - love, breakups, femininity, church, etc. She's very real - took me aback, sometimes. Three of my favorites (to demonstrate the "realness") ...

Untitled #1 (Love Sucks)
You constantly break me down,
Cut me open and turn me inside out
Therefore, my feelings are equal to hell
Their foulness haunts me like a backed-up cesspool
Reeking of used tampons
Vomit
Baby diarrhea ditties
Drunken old man's piss
And filth.
Despite the stench
Despite the nausea
I love you still
Please call soon,
Love,
Dummy.

Haiku #5
I hear them say it
Cuss words ain't for no lady
But sometimes shit's real

Carried Away
I wasn't ready to be your mother
Your main and only source of support.
I wasn't prepared to give you all you needed
All that I wanted to give
But I had always dreamed of when I would be
When I could be your mommy
When I would know your smile
The red, yellow, brown of your skin
The texture of your hair
The innocence in your eyes
I dreamed of when i would know your scent
The red alarm siren in your cry
The warmth of your little presence
I always dreamed that I would show you to the world
Educate you about it and the world I try to create for you
I had always dreamed of you
But you came too soon
My pocket and my body just waren't ready for you
So you left
Without notice
Without prepration
Without choice
Gone
Just gone
I never had the chance to acknowledge you while you were here
With me
And there is still the nagging grief
For you whom I did not meet
Gone
Gone before I had a chance to say hello.