Maya Angelou reading her poem "A Brave and Startling Truth" | United Nations

Maya Angelou reads her poem "A Brave and Startling Truth" which she wrote in commemoration of the UN's 50th Anniversary, in 1995.
A Brave and Startling Truth
We, this people, on a small and lonely planet
Traveling through casual space
Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns
To a destination where all signs tell us
It is possible and imperative that we learn
A brave and startling truth
And when we come to it
To the day of peacemaking
When we release our fingers
From fists of hostility
And allow the pure air to cool our palms
When we come to it
When the curtain falls on the minstrel show of hate
And faces sooted with scorn are scrubbed clean
When battlefields and coliseum
No longer rake our unique and particular sons and daughters
Up with the bruised and bloody grass
To lie in identical plots in foreign soil
When the rapacious storming of the churches
The screaming racket in the temples have ceased
When the pennants are waving gaily
When the banners of the world tremble
Stoutly in the good, clean breeze
When we come to it
When we let the rifles fall from our shoulders
And children dress their dolls in flags of truce
When land mines of death have been removed
And the aged can walk into evenings of peace
When religious ritual is not perfumed
By the incense of burning flesh
And childhood dreams are not kicked awake
By nightmares of abuse
When we come to it
Then we will confess that not the Pyramids
With their stones set in mysterious perfection
Nor the Gardens of Babylon
Hanging as eternal beauty
In our collective memory
Not the Grand Canyon
Kindled into delicious color
By Western sunsets
Nor the Danube, flowing its blue soul into Europe
Not the sacred peak of Mount Fuji
Stretching to the Rising Sun
Neither Father Amazon nor Mother Mississippi who, without favor,
Nurture all creatures in the depths and on the shores
These are not the only wonders of the world
When we come to it
We, this people, on this minuscule and kithless globe
Who reach daily for the bomb, the blade and the dagger
Yet who petition in the dark for tokens of peace
We, this people on this mote of matter
In whose mouths abide cankerous words
Which challenge our very existence
Yet out of those same mouths
Come songs of such exquisite sweetness
That the heart falters in its labor
And the body is quieted into awe
We, this people, on this small and drifting planet
Whose hands can strike with such abandon
That in a twinkling, life is sapped from the living
Yet those same hands can touch with such healing, irresistible tenderness
That the haughty neck is happy to bow
And the proud back is glad to bend
Out of such chaos, of such contradiction
We learn that we are neither devils nor divines
When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
Created on this earth, of this earth
Have the power to fashion for this earth
A climate where every man and every woman
Can live freely without sanctimonious piety
Without crippling fear
When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it.

[@ChantelleM]

I am standing right behind her... I was only 15 years old and I will never forget that day performing in the San Francisco Opera. House

[@shashikumar2834]

I bow down to you for witnessing such a spectacle!

[@Raven-yj5pp]

What an honor, for you, to have been in the presence of such a great, beautiful and powerful woman! I have great respect and admiration for this American icon.✌️

[@leilanipeoples6649]

Wow

[@ibtissamesalbi1]

@bishafricatv8611best of luck !

[@ValTyalin]

I never tire to hear her words and her voice. What an amazing, inspiring legacy.

[@mossylog]

We are still far from “coming to it.” Thank you Maya Angelou for the reminder to take one step forward for peace every day.

[@jeanniecampbell1374]

after hearing this Lady deliver her words ...I am falling in ......love .........and admiration of how truly special she is ,I want to hear more and more of her words and comforting mother earth voice ....Thank you Maya .......x

[@joset7775]

A true masterpiece by of the greatest wonders of this world, Dr. Maya Angelou.

[@zone5breezy]

So beautiful, eloquent and strong. Thank you Dr. Maya Angelou for your inspirational and moving works! ❤️❤️❤️ Rest in Power!

[@gregdiaz1005]

Shess....spectacular...captivating....wise....and more than anything inspiring....thank you for your healing words....

[@barbarahusek6224]

I am awestruck. This is a magnificent poem--and vision of humanity.

[@rr7firefly]

What a treasure walked among us. Maya Angelou always spoke about the rainbow in the clouds. I think she was more than a rainbow. She was a sunbeam that lit up our lives. With her vids we can still learn from her.

[@tiffanymorris2260]

1 Love ❤️ 2 Joy 3 Peace ✌️ 4 Patient 5 Kindness 6 Goodness 7 Faithfulness 8 Gentleness 9 Self Control 10 Never Give Up

[@vthilton]

Sharing, Justice and Peace for all will help Save Our Planet

[@annaug1714]

Let the words touch your soul and clear your mind that's a benefit I can use!!!

[@ironpatriot6840]

I did not realize Maya Angelou was a poet, for that matter I did not even connect her to this time period and this was from 1995. I like her deep thoughts reiterating the same theme without repeating herself. Instead she finds new ways to describe her feelings about god.

[@PoetMountain]

Mother Maya's poem written for every human being on earth is as timely today, after the slaughter in the church in Charleston.

[@renaz630]

God Bless her soul. What a beautiful human being.

[@marthacochrane484]

This woman is so beautiful ......I have only just learned about her life..........her voice , her warmth, her intelligence.........touches my heart very deeply.........

[@angiemorris8966]

This video should be shown at the UN often. so good!

[@alvaburnett6907]

glorious magnificent lady of soul spoken so elegantly 🙄

[@Sean_237]

We, this people, on a small and lonely planet Traveling through casual space Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns To a destination where all signs tell us It is possible and imperative that we learn A brave and startling truth And when we come to it To the day of peacemaking When we release our fingers From fists of hostility And allow the pure air to cool our palms When we come to it When the curtain falls on the minstrel show of hate And faces sooted with scorn are scrubbed clean When battlefields and coliseum No longer rake our unique and particular sons and daughters Up with the bruised and bloody grass To lie in identical plots in foreign soil When the rapacious storming of the churches The screaming racket in the temples have ceased When the pennants are waving gaily When the banners of the world tremble Stoutly in the good, clean breeze When we come to it When we let the rifles fall from our shoulders And children dress their dolls in flags of truce When land mines of death have been removed And the aged can walk into evenings of peace When religious ritual is not perfumed By the incense of burning flesh And childhood dreams are not kicked awake By nightmares of abuse When we come to it Then we will confess that not the Pyramids With their stones set in mysterious perfection Nor the Gardens of Babylon Hanging as eternal beauty In our collective memory Not the Grand Canyon Kindled into delicious color By Western sunsets Nor the Danube, flowing its blue soul into Europe Not the sacred peak of Mount Fuji Stretching to the Rising Sun Neither Father Amazon nor Mother Mississippi who, without favor, Nurture all creatures in the depths and on the shores These are not the only wonders of the world When we come to it We, this people, on this minuscule and kithless globe Who reach daily for the bomb, the blade and the dagger Yet who petition in the dark for tokens of peace We, this people on this mote of matter In whose mouths abide cankerous words Which challenge our very existence Yet out of those same mouths Come songs of such exquisite sweetness That the heart falters in its labor And the body is quieted into awe We, this people, on this small and drifting planet Whose hands can strike with such abandon That in a twinkling, life is sapped from the living Yet those same hands can touch with such healing, irresistible tenderness That the haughty neck is happy to bow And the proud back is glad to bend Out of such chaos, of such contradiction We learn that we are neither devils nor divines When we come to it We, this people, on this wayward, floating body Created on this earth, of this earth Have the power to fashion for this earth A climate where every man and every woman Can live freely without sanctimonious piety Without crippling fear When we come to it We must confess that we are the possible We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world That is when, and only when We come to it.

[@guennmiller4779]

Your reflection and inspiration of Mother Maya's Message to Us All is a Gift , May We All Live Her Words Forever, In Love.

[@CthulusFavoriteTreat]

Foreign lands

[@diatplay]

@@CthulusFavoriteTreat I thought of red poppies and Gallipoli too at that part, and I teared up. We haven't come to it when I look at the news and social media. 😔

[@harrietjohnson1930]

We, you and I, must come to it. 💟☮️

[@tiffanymorris2260]

I like her videos Thank You 🙏 God Bless You Doesn’t matter what states We Are Here for you Praying 🙏 for you everyday You Are Loved 💕❤️ Look what you have left

[@travismoore955]

THANK YOU, MAYA ANGELOU!

[@luluedw]

Quieted into awe ✨

[@randybermudez3677]

my greatest inspiration

[@xqtergaming1337]

Awesome speech, and it is happening as we speak

[@giannicrownews881]

✌🏼&💚in🌊🌊🌊of💡💡💡 thank you for sharing your poem with a people who just might One day wake up and get the insight... iamme✌🏼💚💡

[@rredot4656]

Perfect!

[@UsmanKhan-el1kz]

precise and exact example of what it means to "slay"

[@Tiffanysmith339]

Well said.elegance.

[@harrietjohnson1930]

😆

[@hillary1925]

Yemaya 😍😍

[@Krtwells]

Great meaning on this June day in 2020.

[@mcsmith732]

Gods, I love this woman.

[@yvetteandrews7967]

Wonderful

[@somefishhere]

RIP

[@warrengeorge3182]

Hey no you are still the greatest poet Earth 💯

[@blindfaithlove]

When "WE" come to it! Amen

[@MissPetry]

Wow. Wow. Wow. I’m speechless.

[@deborahpless-vu8os]

She takes my breath away

[@shymillz6356]

Pure power.

[@shannonbowman5990]

Love

[@oceanrose8379]

profound

[@cocokimmie7796]

💜💜💜

[@danskenilsson]

When will we ever learn ? Information technology and globalisation is extending the concept of who is your nabour and exposing egocentric and narrowminded thinking. Integratio is the most pressing challenge for modern man - and history shows pathetic and measly progress during the last 100 years. We must all stop walking by human sufferings - it affects us all. We must not forget the doing good is no specific patent for any human race or religion.

[@iamnxb]

calvin ease back man shes good

[@dwong4479]

I love this i did it for a poem at school and i am on my mom tablet

[@pjris6315]

😇

[@LuisGarzaHo]

1:29 Unique

[@LuisGarzaHo]

That’s what you are

[@Winner2016-e9b]

We learn we are neither devils or devines" we come to it.

[@debrably8704]

Beautiful❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@naturalisted1714]

I believe that we fear letting go of our small feuds, for they be replaced by much bigger horrors.

[@deepakjoshi6522]

Like Hartly

[@lepradoodle4845]

Need to make this more entertaining. Turn up the speed got full screen and type in "awesome."

[@lepradoodle4845]

Make the speed 2. When she says "Mother Mississippi" IT'S PRICELESS

[@herglowup.honestlyspeaking]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@badlilgal]

Listening 01.24.22. SDS

[@gocpng4699]

She Spilled The Beans And Told Some Hidden Secrets

[@nabakumarpodder6115]

দারুণ। দারুণ। দারুণ। Nice. Nice. Nice.If the body becomes a tree. It gives shade.

[@danielcortes8108]

Snaps for Maya!! I would have been "ooo"ing and "guuurrrlllll u tell em" all throughout that! Why weren't these people cheering? Oh I know, because they're part of the problem she speaks of.

[@TheNikkii3]

They applaud at the end. This is not slam poetry, it would have been rude for the audience to cheer/yell throughout.

[@mikan1998ful]

It's a formal event, smh.

[@RobertStambaugh-l5r]

Jesus is the truth .

[@BabetteMccall-wz1ro]

"VOLUME PREDESTINED RHEMA DRAMA WORSHIPPERS "

[@tiffanymorris2260]

I Am Standing For America 🇺🇸 Land Cites County Nation Protection With Maya There No Fear In Love It’s Ok it’s Going To Be Okay Be Still Everything be right no worries

[@EthanNespump]

HI PEEPS

[@crystalharris-thomas1939]

When?

[@janklaas6885]

📍3:44

[@EthanNespump]

HELLOOOOOOO

[@Sean_237]

fish me daddy

[@Kelliie93]

Please put subtitles on your videos. You are doing people a disservice because they can't hear, and you are dishonouring Maya Angelou by not allowing her words to be heard.

[@carolirvine3367]

There is no disservice being done, subtitles are there, if you want them just click and turn them on yourself, hope you do so and enjoy the poem

[@cypheronjv3939]

what?

[@makaronake]

What ever happened to rhyming?

[@timothywilliams2252]

I love how Maya can write a "victim" story in poetic prose, and receive the accolades of the entire western world. While authors like H.P. Lovecraft, who wrote in much better prose, warnings of humanity's unchecked ambitions, and then is relegated to the domain of "nerd-dom." Why? Because he was a "pulp" writer in the 1930's, he was a white male? I challenge anyone to read "At the Mountains of Madness" and not see the wisdom in the subtext of this tale. But, no, Maya Angelou is a national treasure, while Lovecraft is just some fringe writer that us man-baby, fan-boy, geeks like. Now, tell me, who is really oppressed in this country?

[@benreed2254]

There's a reason that H.P. Lovecraft isn't as famous... I read a fairly large chunk of his writing in University (as an English major), and it wasn't as powerfully on point to a world that is reeling from constant war and in a downward spiral of ecological collapse. That's one reason that "A Brave and Startling Truth" gets so many accolades. Dr. Angelou had an incisive and creative mind and her poetry reflects that. She was what the annals of Western civilization would describe as a liberal humanist (in this case, liberal isn't a political stance but rather a pro-human one that eschews violence and promotes human rights and dignity). There are some great interviews of Dr. Angelou on KZbin if you're interested 🙂

[@calvinsaxon5822]

"All signs tell us it is imperative." God, she was so bad. Just really awful. Even as greeting cards her swill would have been bad.

[@teresafarley9148]

don't hate Calvin, emulate!

[@dr.quincyd.citizenph.d.1429]

"All signs tell us it is possible and imperative. ." It makes prefect sense to me.

[@blackstarblues9055]

What is bad about the line?

[@thelegendofthem6120]

Calvin Saxon You're part of the problem. Do you not realize how amazing, inspirational and beautiful this person Is? You poor fool. I truly hope you're enlightened soon. What a joy it is to know of this exquisite soulful woman.

[@chisospk]

The pompous cynic speaks.

[@Zomfoo]

Most overrated poet ever.

[@BigB6989]

?? Most overrated??