Life Doesn't Frighten Me
Life Doesn't Frighten Me - context Summary
From and Still I Rise
Published in 1978 in Maya Angelou's poetry collection And Still I Rise, "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" presents a defiant, childlike speaker who mocks everyday fears and threats. The poem's repeated refrain asserts courage and self-possession, turning mundane and imagined dangers into objects of ridicule. Its playful, accessible tone and imagery make resilience feel immediate and teachable. Placed in Angelou's late-1970s work, it reflects her lifelong concerns with overcoming adversity and encouraging confidence, often read as reassurance for young readers and a statement of personal strength.
Read Complete AnalysesShadows on the wall Noises down the hall Life doesn't frighten me at all Bad dogs barking loud Big ghosts in a cloud Life doesn't frighten me at all Mean old Mother Goose Lions on the loose They don't frighten me at all Dragons breathing flame On my counterpane That doesn't frighten me at all. I go boo Make them shoo I make fun Way they run I won't cry So they fly I just smile They go wild Life doesn't frighten me at all. Tough guys fight All alone at night Life doesn't frighten me at all. Panthers in the park Strangers in the dark No, they don't frighten me at all. That new classroom where Boys all pull my hair (Kissy little girls With their hair in curls) They don't frighten me at all. Don't show me frogs and snakes And listen for my scream, If I'm afraid at all It's only in my dreams. I've got a magic charm That I keep up my sleeve I can walk the ocean floor And never have to breathe. Life doesn't frighten me at all Not at all Not at all. Life doesn't frighten me at all.
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