A legend passed today. A legend whose words will live on in the abyss of dreams, hopes, aspirations and peace.

Her words will live on in the hearts of the young, whose passions are driven by thoughts, poetry and love.

Maya Angelou’s stories echoed through the walls of my classroom. Her words resonated with many of my students. One day I asked students to share their favourite poem in class, and a student shared “Phenomenal Woman.” Then it hit me. Her words stand the true test of time, generation after generation. Thoughts so powerful, they bring tears to my student’s eyes as she reads. Her voice shakes.

I love putting Robert Frost’s “The Gift Outright” side by side with Angelou’s “On the Pulse of Morning”. Their themes, tropes, imagery and words so similar yet so different. Their situations similar, yet so different. My students were more interested in finding similarities. They wanted to make a connection & share the same story. Our classroom was our world, and we made it better.

Maya Angelou’s stories moved so many people because they’re stories of struggle, hardship and victory. They’re stories where peace and love triumphed over the cruelty and injustice of this world. They are stories where hope *exists*. By sharing her heart, she made our class, our world a better place.