Maya Angelou postage stamp revealed

The U.S. Postal Service has revealed its Forever postage stamp featuring Maya Angelou, the poet and author widely known for her autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”

The stamp has a portrait of Angelou alongside a quote from the author: “A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”

Angelou was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 by President Obama and recited a poem at President Clinton’s 1993 inauguration. She died last year at 86.

The author’s long creative life included stage performances that earned her a Tony nomination, recording a calypso record, writing for the screen, directing a film, acting and teaching creative writing.

Her books include the poetry collections “Shaker, Why Don’t You Sing?” (1983), “And Still I Rise” (1978), “Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well” (1975) and “Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie” (1971) and the memoirs “A Song Flung Up to Heaven” (2002), “All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes” (1986), “The Heart of a Woman” (1981) and “Gather Together in My Name” (1974).

During her tumultuous childhood, Angelou lived with her grandmother for four years in Arkansas -- in a town called Stamps.

Her Forever stamp was created by artist Ross Rossin. The stamps will go on sale April 7 and can be pre-ordered now.

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