Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou (4 April 1928 - 28 May 2014)

#2 on top 500 poets

Poems by Maya Angelou : 13 / 53

I know why the caged bird sings - Poem 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

Poems by Maya Angelou : 13 / 53

Marilyn Timpanaro (6/28/2017 6:48:00 PM)

I understand this now in a way I never could before. Those who are free take it for granted, they don't even understand what they've got - but those who are chained, by bars, or by grief, or by age, or by some other circumstance - they yearn for that freedom that's so easily taken for granted.
They yearn to lay their heads down on a cloud pillow without a care. They yearn to walk in the surf and feel the sand and water between their toes. But they can only dream about these things, because they are impossible.
I understand now in a way I never did before, though I thought I did. I wish I didn't. (Report) Reply
Tom Allport (2/13/2017 1:01:00 PM)
tom allport
a great understanding poem about never giving up ones dreams? no matter who or what you are? (Report) Reply
Neran Sati (3/9/2016 6:17:00 AM)

All three posts of Maya deal with the same issue -freedom. That sacred precondition of all singing life! The first or the ultimate goal, the one out of dispute, beyond any else! (Report) Reply