What does it take to be classified as the “best poem ever”? This essay on the poem Phenomenal Woman1 by Maya Angelou will answer that question. For those who have read Maya Angelou’s poem from 1995 know it is a celebration of life as a successful woman, being highly powerful and dramatic, the poem is written to perform for an audience. In this poem we learn that success for a woman without the essential feminine traits comes to a surprise to many but is possible with what’s inside. This poem already being known as one of the best poems ever written and an admiration to many becomes expanded with Maya Angelou’s use of poetic device. A poem induced with literary devices such as imagery, personification, symbolism, overall tone and confidence all to send a strong message across to an audience makes you ask, how could this not be the greatest poem of all time? “Phenomenal Woman” is a poem that every woman can relate to. Angelou explains what it is to be a confident woman like herself throughout each stanza. She expresses them with great detail through imagery, personification and symbolism. Focusing on imagery, Angelou says “The fellows stand or fall down on their knees. Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees.” (Line 16-20). Which is an amazing use of imagery because it shows men flocking like bees after the poet but with her turning away from them all to lead on her own. It proves the statement of this poem that she can be confident and successful without a man. Moving onto personification, which also adds to making this poem so strong because even when “And the joy in my feet.” is said, it shows a joyful confident woman who isn’t afraid to be herself. Lastly, the symbolism in this poem helps to make it so admiring for every woman to strive and believe they’re also phenomenal. Every part she talks about can represent a different symbol. Her hips, shows no matter how wide as they are she can still hold confidence because she knows how beautiful she is. “Stride of my step,” relates to her “hips” because it means she will walk with confidence. All in all, Angelou’s strong use of literary devices prove to an audience that an 2“attractive personality is much more then attractive genetics or any ability to fill in an impossible role”. Tone is such a key factor in a great poem, especially when it is written with such passion and heart. Through the tone of the poem, Angelou explains that as a woman it is still possible to feel confident in your skin even if you don’t have the model body, looks, and husband.