Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem

I first heard this poem when it was read on the Oprah Show by the author and the host. It was so moving and I think is it Ms. Angelou's best work. I purchased my copies to give as gifts to friends and to pass on the prayer for universal peace.

Ms. Angelou is certainly one of our national, no, global treasures. In this brief but poignant piece, she captures the simplicity of Christmas that overwhelms our human attempts to outshine its basic message with fluff and materialism. Unabashedly Christian in her message, she never stoops to sectarianism but celebrates the gift of love for all people; an inclusivity that gathers together, not separates, races and cultures, nationalities and even religions into one powerful embrace. Given that, this is not the typical "P.C." pabulum that one so often hears about how we should just all get along, but a marvelous prophetic vision of God's plan for humanity. I would highly recommend this book for just about anyone you longs to hear a word of hope and healing in the midst of a sometimes dark and troubled world.

After already being impressed with Dr. Maya Angelou having seen her at two conferences speaking, I was again brought to tears by her compassionate and loving pages found in "Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem" for its its profound message of peace. A peace that we need to find internally and then share with others. This doesn't have to be just a Christmas message, but a message that resounds all year long.

This book - of only one poem - holds a special place in my heart. To be such a minute writing, I find its meaning to be mighty. This Christmas I will be 18, and as my younger sister and I decided we didnt want gifts from Santa any more, because we could see the problems it put on our parents and the family as a whole. It saddens me to think about this, but even more due to the fact it wasnt paying for gifts that created a burden; I am very fortunate, and my family has enough money to get most anything we would like throughout the year. The burden felt in my family was what to buy. After discussing how I felt about the holidays with my sister, we decided it would be benefecial to the entire family to only request things the whole family could enjoy. I bought this book for the family to mark in history both the last gift, and again the first gift to the family. This Christmas has been, byfar, the best Christmas ever. Maya Angelou became the inspiration we needed to realize what the holidays are really about, togetherness. I would recommend this poem to anyone; but especially to families out there who feel like holidays in their home are not what they are really supposed to be. In case you are curious, I ask Santa for a new refrigerator, and my sister ask for a new dining table. I cant wait for Christmas morning!

This poem is one of Maya Angelou's best writings...and thats saying something! This a is very moving and powerful poem. There will surely be many coppies of this poem, wrapped up under my family's christmas tree this year. I recomend this work to any Angelou fan and also to anyone who is a fan of peace and generosity, of faith or of freedom...This is a true gem in a sea of rocks...timeless and splendid. This is one writer who proves that she still has the power to move the people. If I could give this book 50 stars, I wouldn't hesitate for a second.