Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel - context Summary
Published in 1978 Collection
Touched by An Angel appeared in Maya Angelou’s 1978 collection And Still I Rise. The poem frames love as a force that draws people out of isolation and fear into bold, living presence. Love brings pleasure and pain, demands courage and full self-surrender, and in return frees the spirit. This short, affirmative poem expresses themes central to Angelou’s work—courage, dignity, and liberation—and reflects her belief that personal bravery and vulnerability are necessary steps toward emotional and spiritual freedom. Its tone is both consoling and challenging, offering a call to action as much as comfort.
Read Complete AnalysesWe, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight live coiled in shells of loneliness until love leaves its high holy temple and comes into our sight to liberate us into life. Love arrives and in its train come ecstasies old memories of pleasure ancient histories of pain. Yet if we are bold, love strikes away the chains of fear from our souls. We are weaned from our timidity In the flush of love's light we dare be brave And suddenly we see that love costs all we are and will ever be. Yet it is only love which sets us free.
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