{"id":482,"date":"2011-06-17T10:00:47","date_gmt":"2011-06-17T14:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/thequeenofmyself\/?p=482"},"modified":"2011-06-20T07:52:14","modified_gmt":"2011-06-20T11:52:14","slug":"482","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/thequeenofmyself\/2011\/06\/482.html","title":{"rendered":"Phenomenal Woman"},"content":{"rendered":"

June is traditionally the month for weddings and it is also now celebrated as Gay Pride month. Love is in the air all around. This is a juicy time of making whoopy.<\/em><\/p>\n

But while June is the jolly season for Brides and Grooms, Brides and Brides and Grooms and Grooms, it is important to remember that the most primary and important love is that of Self Love. All relationships are built on the respect, esteem and affection that we have for our self.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phenomenal Woman<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Maya Angelou<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.<\/p>\n

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size<\/p>\n

But when I start to tell them,<\/p>\n

They think I’m telling lies.<\/p>\n

I say,<\/p>\n

It’s in the reach of my arms<\/p>\n

The span of my hips,<\/p>\n

The stride of my step,<\/p>\n

The curl of my lips.<\/p>\n

I’m a woman<\/p>\n

Phenomenally.<\/p>\n

Phenomenal woman,<\/p>\n

That’s me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I walk into a room<\/p>\n

Just as cool as you please,<\/p>\n

And to a man,<\/p>\n

The fellows stand or<\/p>\n

Fall down on their knees.<\/p>\n

Then they swarm around me,<\/p>\n

A hive of honey bees.<\/p>\n

I say,<\/p>\n

It’s the fire in my eyes,<\/p>\n

And the flash of my teeth,<\/p>\n

The swing in my waist,<\/p>\n

And the joy in my feet.<\/p>\n

I’m a woman<\/p>\n

Phenomenally.<\/p>\n

Phenomenal woman,<\/p>\n

That’s me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Men themselves have wondered<\/p>\n

What they see in me.<\/p>\n

They try so much<\/p>\n

But they can’t touch<\/p>\n

My inner mystery.<\/p>\n

When I try to show them<\/p>\n

They say they still can’t see.<\/p>\n

I say,<\/p>\n

It’s in the arch of my back,<\/p>\n

The sun of my smile,<\/p>\n

The ride of my breasts,<\/p>\n

The grace of my style.<\/p>\n

I’m a woman<\/p>\n

Phenomenally.<\/p>\n

Phenomenal woman,<\/p>\n

That’s me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now you understand<\/p>\n

Just why my head’s not bowed.<\/p>\n

I don’t shout or jump about<\/p>\n

Or have to talk real loud.<\/p>\n

When you see me passing<\/p>\n

It ought to make you proud.<\/p>\n

I say,<\/p>\n

It’s in the click of my heels,<\/p>\n

The bend of my hair,<\/p>\n

the palm of my hand,<\/p>\n

The need of my care,<\/p>\n

‘Cause I’m a woman<\/p>\n

Phenomenally.<\/p>\n

Phenomenal woman,<\/p>\n

That’s me.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Donna Henes is the author of The Queen of My Self: Stepping into Sovereignty in Midlife<\/em><\/a>. She is the Midlife Midwife\u2122 offering counseling and upbeat, practical and ceremonial guidance for individual women and groups who want to enjoy the fruits of an enriching, influential, purposeful, passionate, and powerful maturity.<\/p>\n

Consult the MIDLIFE MIDWIFE\u2122: http:\/\/www.donnahenes.net\/queen\/consult.shtml<\/a><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The Queen welcomes questions concerning all issues of interest to women in their mature years. Send your inquiries to thequeenofmyself@aol.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

June is traditionally the month for weddings and it is also now celebrated as Gay Pride month. Love is in the air all around. This is a juicy time of making whoopy. But while June is the jolly season for Brides and Grooms, Brides and Brides and Grooms and Grooms, it is important to remember…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":218,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,7,3],"tags":[40,13,188,42,57,44,43,68],"class_list":["post-482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-inspiration","category-self-esteem","category-womens-issues","tag-empowerment-2","tag-holistic-living","tag-maturity","tag-powerful-women","tag-self-approval","tag-self-confidence","tag-self-esteem-2","tag-self-love"],"yoast_head":"\nPhenomenal Woman - The Queen of My Self<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/thequeenofmyself\/2011\/06\/482.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Phenomenal Woman - The Queen of My Self\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"June is traditionally the month for weddings and it is also now celebrated as Gay Pride month. 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