Millions of woman marching in solidarity and strength all over the world. The Women’s March was an incredible phenomena. For me it brought to mind one of my favorite poems by Maya Angelou, “Phenomenal Woman”. If you have never read it, or it has been a long time since you have, please take a couple of minutes to do so, whether you are male or female. I have posted it below in its entirety. It is not a long poem but it conveys such self-awareness and self-dignity, much like so many women did as they marched and sang and laughed and cried and yelled and embraced across the globe last Saturday.

What follows are some photos of the phenomenal women who have so profoundly influenced my life.

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,

They say they still can’t see.

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.