Original Poem
We, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight live coiled in shells of loneliness until love leaves its high holy temple and comes into our sight to liberate us into life. Love arrives and in its train come ecstasies old memories of pleasure ancient histories of pain. Yet if we are bold, love strikes away the chains of fear from our souls. We are weaned from our timidity In the flush of love's light we dare be brave And suddenly we see that love costs all we are and will ever be. Yet it is only love which sets us free.
Translation (English)
We, not used to being brave
outcasts from happiness
live wrapped in shells of being alone
until love leaves its sacred place
and comes into view
to set us free into life.
Love arrives
and with it come intense joys
old memories of happiness
ancient stories of hurt.
But if we are brave,
love breaks the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are freed from our shyness
In the glow of love's light
we dare to be bold
And suddenly we understand
that love demands everything we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
that truly sets us free.
About the Poet
Maya Angelou (20th Century)
Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry. Angelou was a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
Read more on Wikipedia →Historical Context
- Literary Form
- Free verse
- When Written
- Published in 1995
- Background
- The poem reflects on the transformative power of love, emphasizing its ability to liberate individuals from fear and loneliness. It is part of Angelou's broader exploration of human emotions and relationships.
Sources: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/touched-by-an-angel-by-maya-angelou, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Angelou
Detailed Explanation
Maya Angelou's poem 'Touched by an Angel' explores the profound impact of love on the human spirit. The poem begins by describing a state of existence characterized by fear and loneliness, where individuals are 'unaccustomed to courage' and 'exiles from delight.' Love is depicted as a divine force that descends from its 'high holy temple' to liberate individuals from their emotional constraints. As love arrives, it brings with it both joy and the resurfacing of past pleasures and pains. The poem emphasizes the courage required to embrace love, as it has the power to remove the 'chains of fear' from the soul. Angelou suggests that love demands a complete surrender of self, yet it is this very surrender that leads to true freedom. The poem's free verse form allows for an expressive exploration of these themes, using vivid imagery and metaphor to convey the transformative power of love.
Themes
Literary Devices
Word Dictionary
| Word | Meaning | Translation | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|---|
| unaccustomed | not used to | not familiar with | un-uh-kus-tuhmd |
| exiles | outcasts | people who are banished or separated | eg-zahylz |
| coiled | wrapped | twisted or wound into a circular shape | koyld |
| ecstasies | joys | intense happiness | ek-stuh-seez |
| timidity | shyness | lack of courage or confidence | ti-mid-i-tee |
| flush | glow | a sudden rush of emotion or color | fluhsh |
| liberate | free | to make free | lib-uh-reyt |
| temple | sacred place | a place of worship | tem-puhl |
| bold | courageous | brave and confident | bohld |
| weaned | freed | gradually detached from | weend |
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