life doesn’t frighten me
05/03/13
— basquiat, book, children, illustration, inspiration, literature, maya angelou, painting, parenting, poetry, reading
maya angelou‘s poetry joins jean-michael basquiat‘s art in “life doesn’t frighten me.” the children’s book seeks to give kids strength in the face of things like scary animals & the dark:
Shadows on the wall
Noises down the hail
Life 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.
listen to angelou read her poem (full lyrics here) as you scroll through some of basquiat’s accompanying illustrations (via brainpickings). to see more, grab the book from your library/book store.
- “Shadows on the wall/ Noises down the hall/ 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.”
- “Don’t show me frogs and snakes/ And listen for my scream,/ If I’m afraid at all/ It’s only in my dreams.”
- “Life doesn’t frighten me at all/ Not at all/ Not at all.”