I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou

 

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

The free bird leaps 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 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.

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

 

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was an American poet and civil right activist.  Her seven autobiographies, three books of essays and several books of poetry, plays, movies and television shows made a remarkable person.  Her dozens of awards and 50 honorary degrees made her well known.  Her autobiography focuses on her childhood and early experiences.  Her “I know why the caged bird sings” portrays her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim.  She died on May 28^th 2014 at the age of 86.

 Summary of the poem 

First work by American writer Maya Angelou.  It is published in 1969, the book says her life from age 3 to 16 recounting traumatic childhood that included rape and racism.  It is about racial discrimination between the whites and the Blacks.  The free bird enjoys the sun.  They enjoy the fat worms.  The caged bird is not a slave, but his wings are clipped and feet are tied.  They are refused of their fundamental rights to go anywhere they prefer.  “The caged bird” sings with fear.  It is the only way to survive.

 Critical Analysis of the Poem

Stanza 1

“The free bird leaps
On the back of the wind”
 down his narrow cage”         

The stanza starts with the leaping of the bird on the back of the wind showing the freedom. The bird could move and glide very freely.  It flies over the stream of wind and floats downwards to where the stream ends.  Its wings touches the sea of orange sunlight.  The bird is shown in a state of calm and peace.  It is very free without any disturbances.  Even it tries to claim the sky.

 

Stanza 2

“But a bird that stalks

 down his narrow cage”

In this stanza Maya Angelou brings out the difference of situation of the bird.  The bird is trying to go out from his cage.  But the cage is narrow.  It is a metaphorical reference to the rage and oppression.  The bird is in pain.  It prefers to escape.  The bird could not enjoy beyond his cage.  The bird’s wings are tied and its freedom is taken.  Wings refers to its freedom.  The bird’s wing tied refers to an image completely opposite of the nature.  It tries to sing.  It is the only thing which gives joy to him in its life.

Stanza 3

“The caged bird sings
With fearful trill
Of the things unknown             

But longed for still”
 
The bird which is in the cave has a wavering voice.  Perhaps he is expressing about its lost freedom in pain.  He sings what he wants.  There is a pain and shiver in his voice.  His voice could be heard all over.  It inspires others to dream of their freedom. The bird could not sing with happiness. Its song is full of pain.

 Stanza 4

“The free bird thinks of another breeze
 And the trade winds soft through the
 Sighing tree”

In this stanza the expressions of free bird is revealed. The free bird enjoys his days in flying through the trees. Sighing trees refers to the singing sound of the tree which are produced by the moving leafy branches. Even the trees too could not make the movement as they are tied to the ground like the caged birds. The free bird could catch anything. He dreams of a fat worm for his food. He feels happy and graceful with the wind in the (his) feathers, water and earth beneath him and the whole sky with him. His freedom is priceless and the entire sky is his own world. Sky refers to the whole universe.
 
Stanza 5

“But a caged bird stands on a grave of dream
  His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream”
  His wings are clipped and his feet are tied

  So he opens his throat to sing”

The poet says that the bird know his freedom has gone. He is not free but he dreams as if he is flying and enjoys the freedom. He knows his dreams of flying with freedom is futile. The caged bird has no hope of his freedom. It is so pathetic to see his shadows scream in fear. His wings are clipped and feet are tied. His only hope is opening the mouth to sing a song. This hope makes the bird to sing his dream of flying in the sky.
 

Stanza 6

“The caged bird with sings
With a fearful trill
Of things unknown
But longed foe still”….

This stanza paints the strong determination of the bird to keep trying his dream of freedom. The bird could enjoy the day by his song which is the only freedom and hope of the bird. There is no restrictions. His wings are clipped and his feet are tied but his throat is not choked yet. So it is allowed to use it to enjoy and to go after his dream.
This whole poem is the poet’s personal message to be strong and to raise our voice for our rights and to express ourselves among the strongest. The great message is, never to give up under any situation.
 
Literary Devices

Alliteration                           

A literary Device in which series of words begin with same consonants sound.
The repletion of sound /s/ in “seldom see through, /w/ sound in “worms waiting” and /sh/ sound in “shadow, shouts” add desperate feeling of the bird.
 
Assonance

It is the use of vowel sound in quick succession.
/i/- sound in distant hills
 
Imagery

It relates to our fire senses. Many images could by found in the poem. “Free bird” “back of wind” to express the feelings. “Orange, sunrays for sight, and to sing refers for hearing sense.
 
Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech that is used to make a comparison between two things that aren't alike but do have something in common.

Free bird refers to the white American or free people. The caged bird is for Africans and their slave life.
 
Personification

A figure intended to represent an abstract quality

Sighing trees refers to mourning trees with sorrow

The bird is personified as his instead of it
 
Symbol

A mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process.

Many symbols are used to show the racial discrimination and social differences. The caged bird symbolizes imprisonment. His song refers to freedom of thoughts. Internal and external Rhymes are used to add melodious effects to the poem.
 
Thus the poem shows the importance of freedom before the civil war. This is suitable even now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIXX0cFZIrc

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