Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer

A collection of poetry witnessing celebrations both private and public, from the author of I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS.

''A brilliant writer, a fierce friend and a truly phenomenal woman'' BARACK OBAMA

Maya Angelou''s poetry has stirred our souls, energized our minds and healed our hearts. Celebrations is a collection of timely and timeless poems: the inspiring ''On the Pulse of Morning'', read at President William Jefferson Clinton''s 1993 inauguration; the heartening ''Amazing Peace''; ''A Brave and Startling Truth'', which marked the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations; and ''Mother'', which beautifully honours the first woman in our lives.

''She moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence and a fierce grace . . . She will always be the rainbow in my clouds'' OPRAH WINFREY

''She was important in so many ways. She launched African American women writing in the United States. She was generous to a fault. She had nineteen talents - used ten. And was a real original. There is no duplicate'' TONI MORRISON