i went to see maya angelou speak tonight. it was fabulous. i cried when she read phenomenal woman. her voice is so musical. i laughed when she rapped the raven. and i howled when she talked about as a youngster she was sure shakespeare was the name of an abused black girl from georgia or something.

it was great! i first read angelou as a lonely 20-year-old who lived with her 17-year-old sister in an apartment in chippewa falls, wisconsin. i think it was in Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas where she wrote, “i would crawl in between the space of the notes and turn my back to loneliness.” that’s when i fell in love. (i was wrong it’s in Gather Together in My Name).