She Knew Me. (My Tribute to Dr. Maya Angelou)

I didn't know her as one knows a neighbor
a relative or a friend
she was not in my list of contacts
or photographs or yearbooks
of a time long ago
no, i did not know her
but she knew me
she definitely knew me

she knew my pain, my struggle
her words, songs, poetry
they checked my pulse
gauged my temperature
measured my resolve

her suffering leveled my consciousness
she was quite acquainted with joy, pain
silence, sound, standing, dancing
stillness and marching on
she defied invisibility
and found her place centerstage

I loved her for it
no, I did not know Dr. Maya Angelou
but she knew me
she definitely knew me.

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