When I Think About Myself, Maya Angelou: Summary & Analysis
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"When I Think About Myself" by Maya Angelou is a candid and reflective poem that explores the complexities of the speaker's identity and experiences. Through a combination of humor, irony, and self-awareness, the poem delves into the speaker's personal journey, her interactions with others, and her relationship with her cultural heritage. When I Think About Myself by Maya Angelou When I think about myself,
I almost laugh myself to death,
My life has been one great big joke,
A dance that's walked
A song that's spoke,
I laugh so hard I almost choke
When I think about myself.
Sixty years in these folks' world
The child I works for calls me girl
I say 'Yes ma'am' for working's sake.
Too proud to bend
Too poor to break,
I laugh until my stomach ache,
When I think about myself.
My folks can make me split my side,
I laughed so hard I nearly died,
The tales they tell, sound just like lying,
They grow the fruit,
But eat the rind,
I laugh until I sta…