Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou est morte à l'âge de 86 ans. (Caroline du Nord)

D'origine afro-américaine, elle était un trésor national.

Poète, écrivain, actrice, auteur de pièces de théâtre elle fut aussi une figure de premier plan de la lutte pour les droits civiques des Noirs aux Etats-Unis

et une proche du prix Nobel de la Paix assassiné Martin Luther King.

En mémoire de cette femme d'exception, je vous propose ici les extraits les plus marquants de son Inaugural Poem.

qu'elle lut à l'Inauguration de William Jefferson Clinton,le 20 janvier 1993.

 
 à Maya Angelou,

On the pulse of morning 

"The Creator gave to me when I and the

Tree and the Rock were one.

Before cynicism was a bloody sear across your brow

And when you yet knew you still knew nothing.

The River sang and sings on.

There is a true yearning to respond to

The singing River and the wise Rock.

So saythe Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew

The African, the Native  American,the Sioux,

The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek,

The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheik,

The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher,

The privileged, the homeless,the Teacher.

They hear. They all hear

The speaking of the Tree.

They hear the first and last of every Tree

Speak to humankind today.

Come to me,

Here beside the River.

Plant yourself beside the River.

Each of you, descendant of some passed-

On taveler, has been paid for.

You,who gave me my first name,you,

Pawnee, Apache, Seneca, ou

Cherokee Nation, who rested with me, then

Forced on bloody feet,

Left me to the employment of

Other seekers--desperate for gain,

Starving for gold.

You,the Turk, the Arab, the Swede,

The German, the Eskimo, the Scot,

The Italian, the Hungarian, the Pole,

You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru, bought

Sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare

Praying for a dream.

....................................................

Lift up your eyes

Upon this day breaking for you.

Give birth again

To the dream."