Caged Bird by Maya Angelou

Caged Bird 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 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.

INTRODUCTION –

"Caged Bird" or "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" is a famous poem by the African-American poet, Maya Angelou. It was published in her poetry collection 'Shaker, Why Don't You Sing?' in 1983. The poem is divided into six stanzas of uneven length. It is written in free verse and has no fixed rhyme. However, we find a lot of repetition of words throughout the poem. It also contains other literary devices like alliteration and metaphors. The poem describes the experience of two different birds, one free and one caged. The free bird flies around joyfully and sings merrily while the caged bird is forced to stay within bounds and its song voices its misery. The song of the caged bird expresses its longing for freedom. The caged bird is considered a symbol for the African-Americans who are forced to live a degraded life and are denied equal rights besides their white counterparts.

POET –

Maya Angelou (4 April 1928 – 28 May 2014) was an African-American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She was awarded the Grammy thrice for her spoken word albums. Her works are spread in seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry. She has received dozens of awards and honorary degrees. Her famous works include I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, And Still I Rise, Phenomenal Woman, etc.

SUMMARY –

In the first stanza, the poet talks about the free bird that flies on and on in the wind enjoying itself. It flies downwards floating with the wind current till the very end and then it spreads its wings in the orange sunlight. The very beauty of the scene can be imagined by the readers. The free bird further enjoys its freedom by claiming the sky as its own. It is in its natural habitat, enjoying its liberty.

In the second stanza, the attention of the poet shifts to a bird that is caged and is denied its freedom. Such a bird is blinded by its grief and rage. It moves angrily and noiselessly in the small cage where it can barely see through the cage bars or its bars of anger. Hence, it is all unknown to the outside world. Its wings are slashed down and its feet are tied to stop it from escaping. Consequently, the only part which can be free of the cage is its voice. So, the caged bird opens its throat to sing. The tone of the poem here changes from content, and cheery to one that is sinister and frustrating.

 
In the next stanza, the song of the caged bird is described. The bird sings of unknown things which it has never seen and is scared of. But still, it wishes to achieve them. This song of desire is heard far away above the hills. The caged bird sings of its dream of freedom. The tone shifts here again with a sense of ecstasy and thrill.

In the next stanza, the imagination of the birds is described. First, we learn about the free bird that thinks about another breeze, and the global winds that blow from east to west. It thinks about the trees that sway with the winds and make sounds similar to sighing. It thinks of the fat worms waiting to be its prey on the lawn in the early morning light. And with all of this, it again claims the sky as its own by flying off high.

In the fifth stanza, the poet describes the dreams of a caged and captive bird. The caged bird stands on the grave of his dead dreams, i.e. the dreams of freedom and liberty. Its dream self screams from the nightmares it has of captivity and imprisonment. Again, we are told that the caged bird's wings are cut down and its feet are tied to stop it from escaping. Hence, it opens its throat to sing about these dreams.

In the last stanza, we find a repetition of the third. The readers are reminded that the caged bird sings of unknown things which it has never seen and is terrified of. But still, it craves them. This song of want is heard far away above the hills. It is because the caged bird sings of its dream of freedom. The tone shifts here again with a sense of ecstasy and thrill. The caged bird still sings as it was created for freedom.

THEMES –

• Freedom vs captivity - The poem compares the experience of a free bird with that of a bird held in captivity. While part of this distinction is meant to convey the injustice forced upon the captive bird, the comparison also allows the readers to explore how a free being thinks and acts, and to argue that freedom is a necessity. The caged bird, here is a reference to the oppressed black men in America who are denied equal rights along with the white men.

• Oppression - The pain and trauma of captivity are dramatically displayed here. The caged bird has lost all its way to freedom as its feet are tied and its wings are cut. The only bit of freedom it achieves is through its song. Hence, we can feel the poor condition of its life.

END –

The poem is one of Maya Angelou's most famous and emotional works. The use of birds as symbols of captivity and freedom adds a new spirit to the poem. The status of the blacks and negroes in America forced the poet to move beyond her comfort and take a stand for them. Her words stand for the whole community. The poem is a perfect example of captivity and oppression along with freedom and joy.