A First Edition of Celebrations by Maya Angelou — Poetry that Greets the Soul

This is a true first edition, stated "first printing" of Celebrations by Maya Angelou, complete with a full number line and published by Random House in 2006. Both the dust jacket and book are in very fine condition—a collector’s copy through and through.

As a former philosophy major at Indiana University, I’ve long admired Angelou—not only as a poet, but as a force of nature. She was a civil rights icon, a literary voice of conscience, and a teller of truths in rhythm and verse. Celebrations is a luminous collection of her poetry—uplifting, urgent, and timeless.

It opens with “On the Pulse of Morning,” the stirring poem she read at President Bill Clinton’s 1993 inauguration. It’s a call to reckon with history and rise with hope—a reminder that every day is a chance to begin again:

Here, on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister’s eyes, and into
Your brother’s face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope—
Good morning.

Maya Angelou’s words continue to echo through classrooms, libraries, and hearts across the world—despite ongoing efforts to silence them in some corners. This volume is not just a book; it’s a beacon.