Remembering Maya Angelou

mayasmall

A number of years ago I had the privilege of photographing Maya Angelou for a book I was working on. I was nervous - and even more so when I met her. At 6' tall, she was a presence even before she began to speak. And that amazing voice - one could only listen. She welcomed me into her home, sharing stories of the paintings, quilts, and memories that she had collected, as I photographed each piece. Then she cooked me lunch - really cooked it, standing over the stove sautéing mushrooms with other vegetables. When we sat down, she recited a beautiful poem by Langston Hughes. The only word that comes to me in describing this experience is grace. How lucky we have been to have had her voice with us.