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Human Family
Maya Angelou
About Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou: She is an African-American writer who represents one of the most powerful voices in modern literature. A poet, educator, historian, best--selling author, actor, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director, she captivates her audiences across the world by addressing the issues of race, colour and gender.
I note the obvious differences
In the human family.
Some of us are serious,
Some thrive on comedy.
Some declare their lives are lived
As true profundity,
And others claim they really live
The real reality.
The variety of our skin tones
Can confuse, bemuse, delight,
Brown and pink and beige and purple,
Tan and blue and white.
I've sailed upon the seven seas
And stopped in every land,
I've seen the wonders of the world
Not yet one common man.
I know ten thousand women
Called Jane and Mary Jane,
But I've not seen any two
Who really were the same.
Mirror twins are different
Although their features jibe,
And lovers think quite different thoughts
While lying side by side.
We love and lose in China,
We weep on England's moors,
And laugh and moan in Guinea,
And thrive on Spanish shores.
We seek success in Finland,
Are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways are differ,
In major we're the same.
I note the obvious differences
Between each sort and type,
But we are more alike, my friends,
Than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
Than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
Than we are unalike.
Available Answers
- 1.
Tick (√) the correct option.
- The poem is about
- different people
- friends and family
- humanity
- none of these
- The poet knows around
- ten thousand women
- eleven thousand women
- twelve thousand women
- thirteen thousand women
- The poem is about
- 2.
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in a poem.
- Find an example of refrain in the poem.
- Why does the poet use refrain in the poem?
- 3.
What do you think of 'Unity of Diversity'? Explain with reference to your own country.
- 4.
Why does the poet mention different countries in her poem? What does she want to convey?
- 5.
Identify the lines that talk about emotions. What do these lines tell us about people? (Hint: Same emotions are experienced by all.)
- 6.
Insert the adverbs given in brackets at the correct places in the following sentences.
- The car was overtuned near the beach. (almost)
- He was thrown out of the bus. (virtually)
- They campaigned against child labour. (vigorously)
- Martin agreed to our proposals. (reluctantly)
- She answered the questions asked by the income tax officials. (nervously)
4 more answer(s) available.