poem

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 suns 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.


Maya Angelou uses central metaphor in her poem to compare a caged bird to one who feels trapped and hopeless,and a free bird to one who is able to pursue their dreams. The caged bird's thoughts linger on what it is missing, because it longs to be free. To one who feels trapped and unable to pursue their dreams, like the caged bird, all the good around them is overshadowed by the sinking feeling that they are missing out on a very important part of life. One does not necessarily know exactly what they are missing out on, they are "things unknown but longed for still"(12), but it is enough to put a damper on a day's happenings. Unable to change a situation, the caged bird sings,like a cry for help. Much like when one finds themself in a binding situation, they find a way to ask for help. A cry for help is not alway heard, or heard just enough to make one feel uncomfortable to ignore it and go about their business. When the caged bird in the poem sings, "tune is heard on a distant hill"(27), but the poem makes it seem like the bird goes un-answered. The caged bird stands on the "grave of dreams"(20), while the free bird "dares to claim the sky"(6). By making this comparison, Angelou suggests that all people desire freedom, and those who are free should truly appreciate their fate.