Here we present Insomniac and other 5 Short Poems by Maya Angelou. Explore the depth of Maya Angelou’s poetic brilliance in Insomniac and Other 5 Short Poems. This collection captures her signature themes of resilience, identity, love, and the human spirit. From sleepless introspection in Insomniac to the profound reflections of her other short works, each poem resonates with timeless wisdom and emotional power. Dive into the beauty of Angelou’s words and uncover the essence of her poetic legacy.
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5 Short Poems by Maya Angelou
Insomniac by Maya Angelou
Insomniac Poem
There are some nights when
~ Maya Angelou
sleep plays coy,
aloof and disdainful.
And all the wiles
that I employ to win
its service to my side
are useless as wounded pride,
and much more painful.
Insomniac Poem Summary
Maya Angelou’s poem Insomniac captures the frustration and emotional turmoil of sleepless nights. The speaker describes sleep as “coy, aloof, and disdainful,” portraying it as an elusive force that refuses to come despite all efforts. The struggle to attain rest is compared to “wounded pride,” emphasizing how deeply painful and helpless the experience can feel. Through its brief yet powerful lines, the poem conveys the loneliness, restlessness, and quiet suffering that often accompany insomnia.
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Momma Welfare Roll by Maya Angelou
Momma Welfare Roll Poem
Her arms semaphore fat triangles,
~Maya Angelou
Pudgy HANDS bunched on layered hips
Where bones idle under years of fatback
And lima beans.
Her jowls shiver in accusation
Of crimes cliched by Repetition.
Her children, strangers
To childhood’s TOYS, play
Best the games of darkened doorways,
Rooftop tag, and know the slick feel of
Other people’s property.
Too fat to whore,
Too mad to work,
Searches her dreams for the
Lucky sign and walks bare-handed
Into a den of bereaucrats for her portion.
‘They don’t give me welfare.
I take it.’
Momma Welfare Roll Summary
This poem paints a raw and unfiltered portrait of a struggling woman, possibly an African American mother in an impoverished urban setting. Her physical description—fat triangles, pudgy hands, jowls shiver in accusation—reflects years of hardship, poor nutrition, and societal neglect.
Her children, deprived of traditional childhood toys, adapt to survival in the streets, engaging in risky games and learning the realities of poverty early on. The lines “Too fat to whore, too mad to work” reveal the cruel constraints placed on her by both society and circumstance, leaving her with limited options.
Her only hope lies in the bureaucracy of the welfare system, but she refuses to see herself as a passive recipient. The defiant closing line—“They don’t give me welfare. I take it.”—asserts her agency, challenging the stigma attached to government assistance and highlighting the resilience of those forced to navigate systemic poverty.
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Passing Time by Maya Angelou
Passing Time Poem
Your skin like dawn
~Maya Angelou
Mine like musk
One paints the beginning
of a certain end.
The other, the end of a
sure beginning.
Passing Time Poem Summary
This short yet profound poem by Maya Angelou explores themes of race, contrast, and interconnectedness. The speaker juxtaposes two skin tones—“Your skin like dawn, mine like musk”—suggesting a contrast between light and dark complexions.
The imagery of dawn symbolizes new beginnings, hope, and light, while musk evokes depth, richness, and an enduring presence. The next lines—“One paints the beginning of a certain end. The other, the end of a sure beginning.”—suggest an inevitable cycle, where one state leads to another, much like life and death, day and night, or past and future.
This poem can be interpreted as a reflection on racial identity, the balance between differences, and the interconnected nature of human existence. Angelou subtly conveys that both skin tones, despite their contrasts, are part of the same continuous cycle of life.
When You Come by Maya Angelou
When You Come Poem
When you come to me, unbidden,
~Maya Angelou
Beckoning me
To long-ago rooms,
Where memories lie.
Offering me, as to a child, an attic,
Gatherings of days too few.
Baubles of stolen kisses.
Trinkets of borrowed loves.
Trunks of secret words,
I CRY.
When You Come Poem Summary
This poignant poem by Maya Angelou explores the power of memories and the deep emotions they evoke. The speaker describes an unexpected visit from the past—“When you come to me, unbidden”—suggesting that certain memories resurface without warning, drawing her into “long-ago rooms” filled with recollections.
The metaphor of an attic symbolizes a hidden or forgotten place where cherished moments are stored. The “baubles of stolen kisses”, “trinkets of borrowed loves”, and “trunks of secret words” represent fleeting romances, unspoken feelings, and past relationships, all treasured yet painful reminders of what once was.
In the end, overwhelmed by these resurfacing memories, the speaker simply states, “I CRY”, emphasizing the emotional weight of nostalgia, love, and loss. Angelou masterfully captures the bittersweet nature of remembering—both beautiful and heartbreaking.
Refusal by Maya Angelou
Refusal Poem
Beloved,
~Maya Angelou
In what other lives or lands
Have I known your lips
Your Hands
Your Laughter brave
Irreverent.
Those sweet excesses that
I do adore.
What surety is there
That we will meet again,
On other worlds some
Future time undated.
I defy my body’s haste.
Without the promise
Of one more sweet encounter
I will not deign to die.
Refusal Poem Summary
This poem by Maya Angelou explores themes of love, reincarnation, and the eternal nature of deep connections. The speaker addresses a beloved, wondering in “what other lives or lands” they have known each other before, suggesting a love that transcends time and space.
The descriptions of “your lips, your hands, your laughter brave, irreverent” convey a passionate and cherished intimacy. The phrase “sweet excesses” implies moments of joy and indulgence that the speaker deeply adores.
Despite uncertainty about the future, the speaker longs for reassurance— “What surety is there that we will meet again”—hinting at a belief in destiny or the possibility of reunion in another life. The final lines, “Without the promise of one more sweet encounter, I will not deign to die,” reflect a powerful defiance; the speaker refuses to leave this world without the hope of experiencing love once more.
Angelou beautifully captures the timeless nature of love, portraying it as a force so profound that it defies even death.
Back to: List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
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