Cotton Quote by Maya Angelou
““Cotton rows crisscross the world And dead-tired nights of yearning Thunderbolts on leather strops And all my body burning Sugar cane reach up to God And every baby crying Shame a blanket of my night And all my days are dying””
About This Quote
Source Poem: "And Still I Rise" (excerpt), 1978
The verses juxtapose vivid, often harsh images of labor, desire, and suffering with a yearning for transcendence and divine connection.
In simple terms: Hard work and longing meet spiritual hope.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaning beyond hardship.
Themes
suffering
spirituality
hope
identity
Mood
reflective
melancholic
hopeful
Type
poetic
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- labor
- personal growth
- creative expression
- healing
- faith
Key Concepts
existential yearning
metaphor
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you find hope amid hardship?
- What role does spirituality play in your endurance?
A Different Perspective
The poetic imagery may romanticize struggle, overlooking systemic oppression.
![“Senator [Tom] Cotton has campaigned on wanting to kill Obamacare. He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act back in January, but he now says, despite these marathon all-night sessions going on in the House, Republicans need to do better, they need to start over, they need to come up with…” quote by Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ba0/rachel-maddow-1240_affordable_senator-tom-cotton-has-campaigned-on-wan_18158.jpg)
![“[Tom Cotton] has been an absolute champion of the idea of getting rid of Obamacare, scrapping the Affordable Care Act.” quote by Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a13/rachel-maddow-1240_absolutes_tom-cotton-has-been-an-absolute-champion_30724.jpg)
