We, unaccustomed to courage
This poem by Maya Angelou explores the transformative power of love. It begins by describing how people, unfamiliar with courage and isolated from joy, live in loneliness. Love is depicted as a liberating force that descends from its 'high holy temple' to free individuals from their shells of isolation. As love arrives, it brings with it both joy and the memories of past pleasures and pains. The poem suggests that love requires bravery, as it can dispel the fears that bind our souls. In the presence of love, people find the courage to be bold and realize that love demands everything they are and will become. Despite its cost, love is portrayed as the only force that can truly set us free, emphasizing its essential role in personal liberation and fulfillment.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| unaccustomed | not used to | not familiar with | uhn-uh-kuhs-tuhmd |
| exiles | outcasts | people who are separated from their home or happiness | eg-zahylz |
| coiled | wrapped | twisted or wound around | koyld |
| temple | sacred place | a holy or revered place | tem-puhl |
| liberate | free | to set free | lib-uh-reyt |
| ecstasies | joys | intense happiness | ek-stuh-seez |
| timidity | shyness | lack of courage | ti-mid-i-tee |
| flush | glow | a sudden rush or glow of emotion | fluhsh |
Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. Known for her autobiographies and poetry, she was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement and worked with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Her works often explore themes of identity, family, and racism.
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