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.
Analysis
"The Caged Bird" was composed by Angelou as she reflected upon her early life. This poem melodically explains her perspective upon her life. Poetry, although written by the same person, has the ability to represent the didactic purpose completely different to that anticipated by the composer. One may say that poetry presents a completely different perspective upon the same life. This is due to the responder's understanding and interpretation of the text. Therefore, "The Caged Bird" represents Maya Angelou's early life in a beautiful manner; open to anyone's unique interpretation.
Angelou contrasts the struggles of a bird attempting to rise above the limitations of adverse surroundings with the flight of a bird that is free. She seeks to create in the reader sentiment toward the plight of the misused, captured creature—a symbol of downtrodden African Americans and their experiences. This representation of a 'caged and flightless bird' is synonymous to that of the youth of Maya Angelou. The story of her growth and development as an individual is presented within this poem.
"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 quotation above is a significant stanza of the poem, "Caged Bird". This repeated verse elaborates on the song of freedom trilled by the caged bird; though his heart is fearful and his longings unmet, the bird continues to sing of liberty. The stanza explicitly displays the true meaning of the poem and defines actions of a "caged bird." Blackness of skin acts as a barrier for the black race; it prevents freedom for a person. The freedom, and feelings of a white person's existence are unknown to one who is black. Here, Maya's belief for freedom and equality is beginning to spread among the black race. She "sings" for freedom.
By presenting the free bird before depicting the caged bird, Angelou helps the reader visualize what the caged bird must have been like before its capture. Even with its clipped wings, tied feet, narrow quarters, and bars of rage, however, the fragile, caged bird is still able to survive and to soar again through its song; this imprisoned bird truly epitomizes the survival of the weak, the major theme in the verse. In a similar manner, caged by her racial ethnicity, Maya is able to sing. Her song is heard in her words. Her poetry. She presents herself as one not bound by who she is, but as one who is liberated by love.
In her book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and her poem, "Caged Bird", a similar message is shared. Maya is presented as one who defied the tradition set from history, and pervaded pure hopes and dreams for black equality.