A Brave And Startling Truth

“On the Pulse of Morning” by Maya Angelou (1993)

Maya Angelou’s first public poem, performed for President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993, also uses contemporary social issues to communicate themes of change and hope.

“Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou (1983)

One of Angelou’s most famous poems, this can be read as a compression of her memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The poet uses birds as an extended metaphor for struggles similar to those reflected in “A Brave and Startling Truth.”

“Kindness” by Naomi Shihab Nye (1980)

This poem conveys similar themes to “A Brave and Startling Truth,” as its speaker dreams of hope in times of tragedy and the power of humanity to create a better world.

“‘A Brave and Startling Truth’: Maya Angelou’s Stunning Humanist Poem That Flew to Space, Inspired by Carl Sagan and Read by Astrophysicist Janna Levin” by Maria Popova (2018)

This article explores some of the cultural context surrounding the poem, including its inclusion on the Orion spacecraft in 2014.

“An Afternoon With Maya Angelou; A Wordsmith at Her Inaugural Anvil” by Catherine S. Manegold (1993)

This New York Times profile examines Angelou’s historical role as a poet reciting her work during the inauguration of President Bill Clinton.