I know why the caged bird sings
By Maya Angelou
The free bird leaps This stanza describes life as someone who has freedom.
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 The poem now shifts to someone living repressed without freedom.
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 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. The poem shifted to freedom.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream Now back to repression
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill This stanza is the poem's chorus. Because it is repeated from the 3rd stanza, the author wants
of things unknown us to know it is important, and the main idea.
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom
The free bird leaps This stanza describes life as someone who has freedom.
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 The poem now shifts to someone living repressed without freedom.
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 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. The poem shifted to freedom.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream Now back to repression
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill This stanza is the poem's chorus. Because it is repeated from the 3rd stanza, the author wants
of things unknown us to know it is important, and the main idea.
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom
An Analysis
To paraphrase, This poem compares and contrasts a caged bird to a free bird. and shows how someone that is damaged can still be happy again.
The caged bird represents a repressed society of the African-American citizens because the caged bird is not given freedom, this is true for the African American race. They were not given nearly the rights that those with white skin tones were given.
Because of this, the free bird is a symbol of the white society. This society has all the freedoms that it can give itself. They fly higher, move more, and sing happier.
The symbol of the cage represents something that holds you back, weather that be a life goal, a big event you are nervous about, or someone or something that is physically holding you back.
From reading this poem you can tell that the author's attitude is hopeful. Hopeful that the times will change.
And finally, the theme of this poem is Optimism can be found in any situation. And the tone is Conflicting and comparative.
The caged bird represents a repressed society of the African-American citizens because the caged bird is not given freedom, this is true for the African American race. They were not given nearly the rights that those with white skin tones were given.
Because of this, the free bird is a symbol of the white society. This society has all the freedoms that it can give itself. They fly higher, move more, and sing happier.
The symbol of the cage represents something that holds you back, weather that be a life goal, a big event you are nervous about, or someone or something that is physically holding you back.
From reading this poem you can tell that the author's attitude is hopeful. Hopeful that the times will change.
And finally, the theme of this poem is Optimism can be found in any situation. And the tone is Conflicting and comparative.