Two well-regarded and recognized poets, Maya Angelou and Alice Walker, wrote many famous and diverse poems, prized for their beauty and truth. Both poets are African American women, although at different times many of their words rang true with each other. Their work can be compared and contrasted by considering the poems as two separate works, and then observing how each is similar and different in its own aspects. Alice Walker grew up the youngest of eight children. As a child she had an accident that left her blind in one eye. She is best known for her work The Color Purple. Much of his work focuses on the civil rights of African Americans. In Alice Walker's poem Remember? start by asking a question. From the title alone, the reader begins to believe that this poem is set in the past, this might lead the reader to think of another time when they were asked the question, remember? To paraphrase, the poem begins rather darkly, a hatred of Walker's physical appearance, referencing his past where his eye had been shot with a BB gun. She continues with disdain towards her life and the way she lives it, “holding their babies / cooking their meals / sweeping their yards / washing their clothes.” After these first two stanzas, the poem takes on a powerful and provocative perspective. She no longer allows this self-hatred, or the hatred that comes from oppression against the color of her skin, to affect her. He moves away from considering the bad moments that have affected his life, as moments of possibility for the future. Walker includes a rhetorical question in the title, Remember? There's the use of repetition when he says, "I am the woman" and "I am the girl," where... in the middle of the paper... the reader walks away, giving anyone the chance to be willing to oppose the injustices of society. She uses her own personal afflictions to better create a stronger, more individualized woman after gaining hope. Use his story; asks for the reader's help to bring justice and hope back to society. Therefore, "Let's get started." The poetry of these two poets creates different images, both overall, each with a different goal, have achieved their goals. Although they come from slightly different times, they can both be recognized and appreciated as poets who did not fear the outside and were willing to put themselves on the line to create both truth and beauty. Works Cited Clark, Tara. "Alice Walker." Alice Walker. Mark Canada, 1999. Web. 09 March 2014Tegr, Maja. “Phenomenal women.” Mary RSS. Maja, 2014. Web. 11 March. 2014.