Maya Angelou’s poem “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings“ is a profound exploration of freedom, captivity, and the indomitable spirit of hope. First published in her 1983 collection “The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou,” the poem draws a symbolic contrast between a free bird and a caged bird, representing the experiences of those who enjoy liberty and those who are oppressed. Deeply rooted in themes of racial injustice, resilience, and yearning for liberation, the poem has resonated as a powerful metaphor for the struggles of African Americans and other marginalized groups. The poem’s evocative language, vivid imagery, and musical cadence make it one of Angelou’s most memorable works.
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I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Poem
A free bird leaps on the back
~ Maya Angelou
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.
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Synopsis of the poem – I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” juxtaposes the lives of two birds: one that is free to soar in the sky, enjoying the fullness of life, and another that is trapped in a cage, singing a song of longing and pain. The free bird represents those who live with privilege and opportunity, while the caged bird symbolizes those constrained by oppression and systemic barriers. Despite its suffering, the caged bird continues to sing, driven by an unquenchable hope for freedom. The poem emphasizes the power of the human spirit to rise above suffering and the enduring desire for emancipation.
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Summary of the poem – I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
The poem opens with a description of the free bird enjoying the open sky, flying freely on the wind, and claiming the world as its own. In stark contrast, the caged bird, trapped behind bars of rage and restriction, sings a song filled with fear and longing. This song is a cry for freedom, a poignant expression of the bird’s unfulfilled dreams. Angelou uses this contrast to highlight the disparity between those who are free and those who are oppressed.
The second stanza returns to the free bird, illustrating its carefree existence as it leaps on breezes and dares to claim the sky. Meanwhile, the caged bird’s clipped wings and tied feet prevent it from flying, but its voice rises with a defiant melody. Angelou uses repetition of the caged bird’s song to underscore its persistent hope and yearning.
In the final stanzas, the caged bird’s song becomes a universal symbol of resilience and the human quest for freedom. Despite the physical limitations imposed on it, the bird’s voice remains powerful and unrestrained. The poem concludes with the haunting and hopeful image of the bird continuing to sing, a testament to the strength of hope and the enduring struggle for justice and liberation.
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
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