Poem For A Lady Whose Voice I Like

“Woman Poem” by Nikki Giovanni (1971)

Giovanni writes “Woman Poem” in the voice or persona of a stereotypical Black woman. It plays on the preconceived notions people have of what it means to be a woman—oppressed, destitute, and subservient to men. The speaker outlines how women never really give each other a smile but rather feel suspicious of one another and have their “whole life / [...] tied up / to unhappiness” (Lines 1-3). A reader could view this poem as the antithesis or opposite of “Poem for a Lady Whose Voice I Like.” It shows how women often are, or are thought of, at their worst, whereas “Poem for a Lady Whose Voice I Like” shows them at their best.

“Howl (for Nina Simone)” by Nikki Giovanni (2007)

This is a poem Nikki Giovanni wrote for her friend Nina Simone. She references the many struggles Simone had in her life, such as searching for a higher purpose and having the American government (J. Edgar Hoover) set against her. Yet Simone kept singing, and in this poem, Giovanni encourages her to keep singing. She then encourages others to keep listening as she sings along with “Lorraine and Langston,” meaning Lorraine Hansberry and Langston Hughes, two prominent Black authors. It shows in more depth why Giovanni admired Nina Simone and can add to a reader’s understanding of the allusion to Simone in “Poem for a Lady Whose Voice I Like.”

“Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why)” by Nikki Giovanni (1972)

This is a persona poem in which the speaker takes on the voice of an unspecified woman who has been alive since the dawn of time. She says she “gave [her] son Hannibal an elephant / He gave [her] rome for mother’s day” (Lines 24-25). It is a non-literal poem in which the speaker recounts several achievements throughout human history that show how great she is. The title “Ego Tripping” may be poking a little fun at how elaborate her feats are, but the poem is ultimately sincere in celebrating the greatness of women and African women specifically. The speaker of this poem seems to have the same beliefs and “voice” as the lady in “Poem for a Lady Whose Voice I Like.”