Summary
Stanza One: In a reflective tone, the speaker recalls her interactions with other women. She explains that “pretty women” often look at her and wonder what makes her so attractive and alluring. The speaker is quick to point out that, unlike these conventionally-beautiful women, she is not “cute” and does not possess a model’s figure. For this reason, other women are baffled by her appeal and want to uncover the secret to her powerful presence. The speaker attempts to solve this mystery by describing her unique physical characteristics and mannerisms.
However, she claims that when she tries to explain her allure to these women, they never believe her. The speaker insinuates that they may be jealous, or perhaps they are simply incapable of believing that a woman who does not fit conventional standards of beauty can be beautiful at all. The speaker concludes the stanza with a refrain about being a “phenomenal woman.” She proclaims with pride that she is not merely a lovely woman, but an exceptional one.
Stanza Two: The speaker proceeds to describe her effect on men. She explains how she exudes a powerful sensuality that draws their attention whenever she walks into a room. Each time she walks before them calmly and confidently, they either stand up at her arrival or melt from their desire for her. They then swarm around her, vying for her attention. As in the first stanza, the speaker details her physical attributes and mannerisms as a means of explaining her effect on others. From the power in her look to the swing of her hips, the speaker is capable of seducing the opposite sex by merely standing before them. The stanza concludes with the refrain of being a phenomenal woman, once again reaffirming the speaker’s confidence and justifying other people’s reactions when they notice her.
Stanza Three: In the third stanza, the speaker continues her reflections on men. This time, she draws a parallel between the reactions of both women and men when they notice her. She states that, like other women, men have also wondered what is so special about her. However, she takes her analysis to another level when she suggests, for the first time, that she actually possesses another kind of beauty altogether. She has a mysterious inner beauty that men cannot see or understand even when she tries to show them. They are blind to what makes a woman beautiful from within, as they only judge her—and likely other women as well—based on her physical looks. Using sensual language, the speaker describes physical attributes and mannerisms that make up her beautiful and enigmatic aura. At the end of the stanza, the speaker repeats the refrain about being a phenomenal woman.
Stanza Four: The speaker addresses the listener for the first time, summarizing her qualities and explaining how her previous recollections should help the listener understand her better. Now, at the present time, the listener should be able to comprehend the speaker’s life and appreciate her qualities. The speaker explains that she does not bow her head in shame, as she is proud of who she is. She also does not draw attention to herself willingly—she is simply being herself, which naturally draws others to her. She tells the listener that he/she should be proud of her when she walks by, as she is a confident and self-respecting woman. The speaker details additional qualities about herself, describing her joyous walk, the natural beauty of her physical attributes, and the world’s need for a woman like her. All of these things have happened in her life because she is a phenomenal woman and is proud of it, marching to the beat of her own drum.
Analysis
In the first stanza, the speaker does not appear to address anyone in particular. Based on the poem's use of the first person, the reader may assume that the speaker is Maya Angelou, describing her personal experiences. While the poem as a whole does not follow a set rhyme scheme, Angelou uses several rhymes in this particular stanza to give the poem a rhythmic feel from the outset. The speaker indicates that the other women who look at her curiously are specifically “pretty women.” Immediately, the reader is led to understand that the speaker does not consider herself part of this category. As she describes in the stanza’s second line, she does not fit the typical definition of beauty as embodied by fashion models. When the speaker tries to explain the secret to her beauty, the women believe she is telling “lies.” The use of such a strong term suggests that they are not only in disbelief but jealous as well—they accuse the speaker of being a dishonest woman because they envy her.
Despite the women’s pettiness, the speaker has a triumphant spirit. She describes her features and gestures in precise detail, using words that create an image of herself as larger than life. The “reach” of her arms, the “span” of her hips, and the “stride” of her step indicate graceful movement and the notion of taking up space in an uninhibited manner. The speaker is waltzing through life with a confident stride, and the “curl” of her lips suggests not just a facial feature but perhaps a proud smile as well.
At the stanza’s conclusion, the speaker cites the refrain that is later repeated at the end of all subsequent stanzas. The speaker uses a play on words with the word “phenomenal,” also creating a rhyme. The adverb “phenomenally” modifies the verb “to be,” as if being a woman is not just a passive status but an action that demands attention. She is not merely a woman; she actively embodies all that comes with womanhood—beauty, intelligence, grit—and does so in a phenomenal manner. With the words, “that’s me,” she sums up her confidence with a strong affirmation that she is indeed wonderful.
Interestingly, the word “phenomenal” may be interpreted in different ways. On one hand, it can be interpreted as exceptional and amazing. However, one might also read it as unbelievable—like a natural phenomenon that defies human expectations. The latter definition parallels the attitude of the women described in the stanza—they do not believe the speaker just as they might doubt any phenomenon deemed mysterious or unlikely to occur. Nevertheless, the speaker delights in her power and rejects other women’s cynicism. "Phenomenal" also means, in the most basic sense, something that is visible or perceptible; so the speaker's amazingness is also something that people can't help but see, no matter how unbelievable or surprising it may seem.
In the second stanza, the tone of the speaker shifts from simply confident to both confident and seductive. She describes her attitude as “cool” when she enters a room. She is not intimidated in the least by men, as she is aware of her power over them. With the words, “and to a man,” she sets up a comparison and contrast with the women described in the first stanza. While she drives women to doubt and envy, she drives men to lust. When men see her, those who are sitting stand up. This suggests that the men are actually intimidated by her, and not vice versa. They are eager to be at her service and say all the right things to capture her attention. Angelou also uses hyperbole to exaggerate her effect on men, claiming that some actually fall down to their knees in her presence. These men are less collected than those who stand up, as they simply fall for her so deeply that they surrender to her on their knees.
The speaker then illustrates through figurative language how these men circle her like bees, as if she is sweet like honey. They are eager to be near her and pursue her. In this stanza, the speaker uses nouns that evoke energy and light to describe her allure. This time, she explains that the “fire” in her eyes and the “flash” of her teeth cast a spell on men. The fire may refer to sexual energy or simply confidence—her eyes essentially hypnotize the men around her. The flash indicates light, suggesting shiny white teeth that glisten when she smiles. The “swing” evokes the feeling of dance, as if her hips are rotating in both a beautiful and suggestive manner. The “joy” in her feet likewise indicates the pride and contentment she feels in being the woman she is. Once again, she reaffirms this belief at the conclusion of the stanza when she repeats that she is a phenomenal woman. This repetition continues to give the poem a musical quality, as if the speaker is reciting a powerful ballad about the joys of being an incredible woman.
In stanza three, the speaker refers again to how other women respond to her by mentioning that “men themselves” have also wondered about her allure. These men fail to understand what makes her so appealing and are baffled by her powerful hold over them. The speaker’s statement that these men try often to “touch her inner mystery” may suggest many things. The word “touch” has a sexual connotation, as in a man trying to seduce a woman. These men are most likely ready to make love to her, and the speaker insinuates that they are unsuccessful in their attempts at seduction. She has power and control over her own body. However, her inner mystery also implies all the beautiful things that make up a human soul—hopes, dreams, and personality traits, to name a few. Viewed in this light, the idea of men trying to touch her inner mystery may be more innocent. They may be trying to understand what makes her who she is, but they fail to grasp or “touch” these truths. They “cannot see”—are blind to—the beauty that lies within, as society has taught men to judge women superficially (hence the earlier mention of “fashion models”). Even when the speaker tries to show them her beauty—whether by letting them come closer physically or attempting to explain her passions and show her feelings—they fail to understand.
Nonetheless, the speaker is unfazed by these men’s reactions and continues to show pride in herself. In this stanza, her attributes and gestures are more sexualized than in previous stanzas. The speaker describes the “arch of her back,” creating an image of a sensual female. Her smile is like the sun, once again referring to light and the radiance of her beauty. Most explicitly, she mentions the movement of her breasts, describing them as they “ride” or move back and forth when she walks. Lastly, she refers to a personal style that is graceful, suggesting that she is not only sensual but almost holy with her bright and soft appearance. The mention of “grace” implies the opposite of sexuality, like purity. The speaker still emphasizes that she can indeed possess both holy and sensual qualities—combined, they make her a phenomenal woman just as women depicted in religion are deemed divine and sacred. Once again, the answer to all these mysteries is very simple: She is quite simply a phenomenal woman, and she knows how to be a woman phenomenally.
By addressing the listener directly in the fourth and final stanza, the speaker shifts the meaning of the poem slightly. She is not just singing her own praises and rejoicing in herself; rather, she has been telling this story about her life to a listener with the hope of getting this person to understand and respect her. The listener is not indicated, but one may surmise that the speaker—Angelou herself—is appealing to the whole world to recognize her dignity and role as a powerful and confident woman. She tells the listener that it should now be clear just why she does not bow her head—she is not ashamed of who she is. The phrase also conjures an image of African slaves who were often shamed or told to look down and be obedient. The speaker is rising above her ancestors’ pains and holding her head up high.
The speaker also indicates her humility by stating that she does not try to win people’s attention. She does not “shout” or make any commotion by raising her voice in order to make others notice her. Rather, all the characteristics she has described throughout the poem are either completely silent or subtle. A look, a smile, a swing of the hips—they are all powerful gestures demonstrated quietly. This is why the listener should be proud of the speaker—she is simply living life on her own terms without trying to bother or manipulate anyone. She states again that she believes her power stems from her subtle qualities. The “click” of her heels suggests both femininity and a joyous walk, while the “bend” of her hair suggests the natural way in which her hair falls and makes her beautiful. The “palm” of her hand may refer simply to the natural color of her skin, or perhaps it suggests a gentle human touch such as holding one’s hand or making an offering. The last attribute is perhaps the most intriguing. The speaker declares a “need for my care,” suggesting that the rest of the world not only desires her but needs her as well. She is needed as a powerful and phenomenal woman, and this line ties in well with the previous line that mentions her palm. She has much to offer the world, and this is all because she is a truly phenomenal woman.
