I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
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 fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and is tune is heard
on the distant hillfor the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
an 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. 

     - Maya Angelou

Analysis

"I know why the caged bird sings” is one of the most famous poems of Maya Angelou. It speaks of freedom and equality for the entire humanity. It represents many ideas, themes, and thoughts, so it doesn't necessarily have just one meaning. This poem states that there are two birds, one trapped in a cage, and the other in free and flying in the sky. The trapped bird represents an African American man or woman, while the free bird represents a white man or woman. The poem is portraying the relationship between an African American person and the white people. Maya Angelou is explaining the feelings of racial discrimination, segregation, and domination. The poem describes how she was the bird that was trapped and tied up and unable to reach freedom. The caged bird can be interpreted as the black race being held back from freedom by their skin color. The fat worms and breeze in the poem symbolize hope and opportunity In the poem, it is constantly repeated that "his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing." This is implying that even though this bird is trapped, it still has hope. The bird will continue to persevere and not give up. It sings about the hope of things to come, not necessarily of happiness. . She uses harsh metaphors to portray a vivid picture of the social scenario of the 20^th century African American community that was oppressed under the whites since centuries.