You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may **** me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Shall I tell you where the dead are?
You won't find them in the sky
Their faces don't grace clouds,
or rest in a person's eye

Shall I tell you where the dead are?
You won't find them on the street
If you missed them the first time,
then there's no chance they'll repeat

Shall I tell you where the dead are?
You won't find them on a wall
A picture is but a picture,
and that just won't do at all

Shall I tell you where the dead are?
You won't find them in a book
Better catch them while they're living
Better have yourself a look

Shall I tell you where the dead are?
You won't find them in a voice
They've moved on to different pastures,
but not one is there by choice

Shall I tell you where the dead are?
Very well, you'll get your way
The dead rest in the ground,
and it's there they'll always stay

If ever you need me,
I'll be right here,
To chase away the sadness,
And wipe away a tear.

If ever you need me,
I'll be two steps behind,
To follow in your footsteps,
And hear what's on your mind.

If ever you need me,
You'll never have to fear,
That your presence isn't important,
And your love isn't dear.

If ever you need me,
I'll always be around,
To bring back the laughter,
Where deep in your heart it's found.

You'll never have to worry,
For I'll always be here,
To chase away the sadness,
And wipe away a tear.

I am here for you!

So cute my Daughter, so cute my Son,
Whole day you make a noise, whole day you both run:
You quarrel and play and shout and sing,
Rock till night from early morning.

You are crazy for carrom, you are lazy for ball!
Now sit to study, learn, cram and recall;
You are greater than us. more precious than us.
Your Guardians for you, are so anxious.

Will you fulfill our dreams, make new schemes?
Will the sun of your Dreams cast new beams?
And herald new trends, soothing high and low?
We are sure you will, so prepare, perspire and cheerful go...!!

One Silent night I requested Thee,
"Dear God, grant me a friend,
Who is a push when I stop;
A word when I am quiet;
A smile when I am sad;
A shoulder when I cry;
A sun when I am cold;
A known amongst all unknowns;
A lamp in the darkness;
A shelter in the rain;
A soft path in this rough terrain;
A stick when I can no further walk;
A place to retrurn to when all is lost ..
I am afraid I ask too much of Thee;
But is a true friend too much for thee to grant me?"

To this Thou Gracefully replied,
/IWhat you ask of me is not beyond My power;
But you yourself have to toil for it your life's short hour;
though have made true friends for everyone,
"To find & recognize them" is a test that can be skipped by none."

And then: realized that I did not ask too much thee,
But true friendship is one thing only I myself can earn for me..