As an English major I was required to read some of the best pieces of literature of all time and some of the most pathetic pieces of crap ever penned and published. Maya Angelou has long been one of my most favorite authors. The rhythm of her words, whether poetry or prose, roll off a mental tongue in a way that made my mind dance among the letters scrolled on the page.

Via the AP:

“Author and poet Maya Angelou, who rose from poverty, segregation and violence to become a force on stage, screen and the printed page, has died. She was 86…

She gained acclaim for her first book, her autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” making her one of the first African-American women to write a best-seller.”

Her talent will live forever in her words, but her presence will be missed.