Caged Bird By Maya Angelou

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

BY MAYA ANGELOU 

A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind   

and floats downstream   

till the current ends

and dips his wing

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and   

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   

of things unknown   

but longed for still   

and his tune is heard   

on the distant hill   

for the caged bird   

sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn

and he names the sky his own

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams   

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream   

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied   

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   

of things unknown   

but longed for still   

and his tune is heard   

on the distant hill   

for the caged bird   

sings of freedom.

This is one of my favorite poems. It expresses the freedom of birds through descriptions and comparisons. It compares the lives of a free bird and a caged bird. It expresses the importance of freedom and the cruelty of restrictions. The title of the poem shows the desire and hope of the caged bird as well as relating it to reality. This poem is deep and meaningful. I really enjoyed reading this poem. It makes me think a lot through the extreme in the difference of the comparisons.