I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS
MAYA ANGELOU
1.
I 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
Reference to the context: These lines presenting the poetess’ own feelings of freedom, have been
extracted from the poem entitled I know Why the caged Bird Sings, written by
Maya Angelou.
Here, the poetess describes the free
bird which is a metaphor for white American who enjoys the freedom to the full
extent and also fulfils his dreams and aspirations which he nourishes in his
heart. In these lines, the free bird is regarded as a true epitome of freedom.
Explanation: The free bird which is suggestive of a white American,
springs from the ground or the tree to take off its flights in the vast sky. It
fully enjoys its flight by sitting on the back of air. It flies in the
direction of the air current. It experiences moving and gliding freely through
the air. It hovers over a stream of wind and floats downwards to where the
current of the stream ends and the wind is calm. It dips it wings in the sea of
orange sunlight. The bird is shown in a state of great tranquillity. It has the
freedom to move about wherever it desires. It is so utterly free and without
restraints that it dares to claim the sky. The whole firmament is its one big
home.
2.
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
Reference to the context: These lines showing the pitiable
state of the caged bird which is a metaphor of black American, have been
extracted from the poem entitled I know the caged Bird sings, written by Maya
Angelou.
Here the poetess introduces the limitations set upon the
caged bird (which is the metaphor of African-American) and how this affects the
bird as the bird is still proud and cries out the freedom.
Explanation:
The poetess contrasts the situation by presenting the image
of a caged bird. The caged bird tries to go after its cage in vain. The cage is
narrow and its metaphorical bars of rage. The caged bird is seen to be angry
with its situation. It desires with all its heart to escape its plight. But the
caged bird cannot see beyond this cage. Its wings are clipped, that is, its
freedom is taken away. It cannot fly even if it desires to. Its feet are tied.
A bird to the ground represents an image completely opposite to its true nature
of flight. This represents the fact of alienation of the bird. But the most
important thing is that despite being in this utterly despondent predicament,
the caged bird opens its throat to sing. That seems to be its only joy and
achievement in life.
3.
The caged bird sings
With 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
Reference to the context:
These lines showing the loss of freedom resulted in the
mental agony for the caged bird, have been extracted from the poem entitled I
know Why the caged bird sings, written by Maya Angelou.
Here the poetess points out that the harsh and painful
aspects of the caged bird’s existence cannot take away its dignity. It knows
its strength and uses it for expressing its rebellion by singing.
Explanation:
The caged bird has been shown to be afraid of many things
which are entirely unknown to her as it has never got opportunity to go out of
the bars of the cage. Hence the caged bird quavers while singing of the
undiscovered things, yet it sings about the thing that it has longed for
throughout its life. It realises its condition but still aspires for freedom.
The bird’s song is so shrill that it reaches the hills which are far off. Its
song enlightens and inspires the others to dream of freedom.
4.
The fire 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.
Reference to the context:
These lines showing the free bird’s dissatisfaction, selfish
nature and its greediness for craving more, have been extracted from the poem
entitled I know why caged bird sings, written by Maya Angelou.
Here the poetess points out the selfishness of the free bird
which is not satisfied with its first flight and longs for another fresh
flight. It shows its greediness for more freedom.
Explanation:
At one side, we see the caged bird which always longs to take
a free flight in the sky, but its cherished dream remains unfulfilled and on
the other side we see the free bird which, inspite of taking first flight
freely in the sky, does not seem to be satisfied with it and shows heavy greed
to have another flight. The free bird always remains dissatisfied and expects
more freedom. It thinks of another flight with another current of the air or
breeze and of course it can enjoy for another flight for getting more joy and
pleasure. It can enjoy flying the trade wind that blows through the trees which
produce sighing or moaning sound under the impact of wind. Actually, the
sighing sound is made by the breeze while passing through the leafy branches.
It gives an indication to their lack of freedom, as the trees are also tied to
the ground like the caged bird. It can find its own at its will. It can enjoy
the fat worms waiting for it at the sunrise in the green lawn. Fat worms are
the best food for the free bird. With the wind in its feathers, water and earth
beneath it and the whole sky with it, it feels majestic in its freedom and
calls the entire sky its own domain. The free bird knows itself to be the
proprietor of this whole universe. Here the sky stands for the universe.
5.
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
Reference to the context:
These lines showing again the distressful condition of the
caged bird, have been extracted from the poem entitled I know why the caged
bird sings, written by Maya Angelou.
Here the poetess makes again a shift to the caged bird and
its helplessness. The caged bird’s condition is so distressful that the cage
becomes a symbol of its grave of dreams. But once again, the caged bird sings
of its freedom.
Explanation:
The bird which is made a captive behind the bars of the cage,
is ever craving for freedom but in vain. It cannot come out of it. Its cage
becomes the grave of its dreams. It stands on the grave of its unfulfilled dreams. The shadow,
that the caged bird sees of itself makes it scream. The caged bird is utterly
frightened to see its pitiable condition in its shadow. After seeing its shadow,
it comes to know the reality that its wings have been clipped and its feet are
tied. The loss of freedom results in the mental agony for the caged bird.
However, the harsh and painful aspects of the caged bird’s existence do not
take away its dignity. It knows its strength and uses it for expressing its
rebellion by singing.
6.
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
Reference to the context:
These lines presenting a repetition to emphasise the
miserable and pathetic state of the caged bird, have been extracted from the poem
entitled I know why the caged bird sings, written by Maya Angelou.
The poetess has made a repetition of the stanza because she
wants to make us realise the pain, anguish, unfulfilled dreams and shattered
hopes of the caged bird.
Explanation:
Although the caged bird lives a life of captive behind the
bars of the cage and has never experienced freedom, it still sings of it. Its
voice is heard far and wide and its longing foe freedom and equality can not be
dismissed as a distant voice. Even though the caged bird lives a harsh life, it
continues to persist, persevere and is unwilling to surrender to its opponents.
It still longs for freedom in its song.
The poetess feels that the black Americans wrote and sang and
danced and cried out the freedom they deserved, but they were only heard as a
distant voice. Yet, this did not stop them crying out for freedom and equality
because they knew they were made for freedom.
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