from Maya Angelou’s I Shall Not Be Moved book of poetry.

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*Note on the Substitution of “Whoppa” with “twerk”

The poem catalogs enormous accomplishments. Ships cross oceans. Railroads span continents. The worker keeps the world running. And then, in the middle of all that seriousness: Whoppa, Whoppa.

Not in exhaustion. There is rhythm in it. There is movement in it. There is a kind of playfulness and humor in it. Perhaps this is why the substitution of twerk, twerk feels strangely appropriate despite the disparity. Both words possess a certain bounce. Both resist seriousness.

A meaningful life requires effort. It requires commitment and responsibility. But effort alone is not enough. The ability to enjoy life may be just as important as the work and effort of living. Perhaps that is what I hear in Whoppa, Whoppa. The sound of a person who has discovered how to enjoy the work of being alive.

twerk, twerk.