Refusal, Maya Angelou: Summary & Analysis
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"Refusal" by Maya Angelou is a heartfelt and intimate exploration of love, longing, and the determination to live life to its fullest. Through vivid language and emotional depth, the poem speaks to the enduring power of love and the refusal to succumb to mortality when the promise of further joy and connection remains. Refusal by Maya Angelou Beloved,
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.
Summary "Refusal" is a deeply personal and passionate declaration of love that defies mortality. The speaker addresses their beloved, reflecting on the profound connection they share. The poem expresses the urgency to continue experiencing the beloved's presence and love, refusing to accept death wit…