I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Man do I feel like junk. Thanks to a hard landing in Cranbrook my backs shot. My shoulders are wreaked, my neck is bent, and I was up sick all night. I'm getting to feel like an old dog that needs to be put down, but enough of that.

I want to talk about one of my favorite poems today, "I know why the caged bird sings" by Maya Angelou. Even though the poem speaks of racism, I think it still reaches all of us on different levels. I think to some extent, all of us have bonds that tie us to a cage.

Loneliness, the longing for a loved one, even the ability to love, can keep us inside that cage. The absence of family, the feeling of abandonment, and even money problems can all lead us to that place.

We all want to spread our wings, we all want our freedom. We want to float on gossamer wings, and feel the warmth of an embrace. There is something that we all long for that is just off in the distance seemingly unreachable. (See the post Green Lights and the Untimely Demise of Symbolism for reference)

And now the poem:

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.