The Caged Bird

The Caged Bird

Throughout history, we can see that barriers have been raised between races in many parts of the world, even our own. This poem, "The Caged Bird" is another favorite of mine written by an American poet that I admire greatly - Maya Angelou.




Born as Marguerite Ann Johnson in 1928, she is an American poet, playwright, author, producer and an important figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. She has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer" and is best known for her series of six autobiographies, starting with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, (1969) which was nominated for a National Book Award and show the unity of Angelou's central themes: the injustice of racism and how she fights it. A highly respected writer, it is no surprise that she has won over 30 honorary degrees.

RATIONALE FOR THIS POST
I am doing a post about this poem tonight because its message is particularly relevant to us in the light of recent developments in our country. As I surf the net, I can feel the onslaught of vehement comments from various parties expressing their outrage and in many ways, many of us are like the subject in the poem - THE CAGED BIRD.

BACKGROUND OF THIS POEM
Divisions and inequalities have existed between African Americans and whites since long ago. For more than one hundred years African Americans have lived in a world where ongoing white supremacy and African American inferiority exist and have unjustly endured many injustices, ranging from slavery, discrimination, segregation, and racism.
In history, ultimately the opportunities have existed for whites; African Americans have been oppressed, segregated, and held back.

In Maya Angelou’s poem, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,” there is a clear parallel between the caged bird and the free bird, and the African American man or woman and the white man or woman. While Angelou never mentions either race it is clear that she does so through the metaphors she uses to send the points she wants to get across to her audiences. Angelou’s words speak out to an all African American audience to relate to, understand, and share the feelings of oppression and segregation, and feelings of jealousy toward the white race. Maya Angelou also speaks to an audience of mixed races and I believe many of us can identify with her voice...


I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS
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.

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