Maya Angelou, “Caged Bird” from Shaker, Why Don't You Sing?

1983
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48989/caged-bird
I chose this poem because it is one of the most known poems 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 sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
Commented [1]: Angelou starts by giving an example
But a bird that stalks of a bird that isn't caged and is free. Almost like a
down his narrow cage control so you can better understand that lack of
can seldom see through freedom that the caged bird has.
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
Commented [2]: This is most likely a reference to the
The caged bird sings fact that some people don't have the freedom or
with a fearful trill opportunity to do anything but speak, and fight through
of things unknown the sword that is the pen.
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
Commented [3]: The caged bird is only ever thinking
The free bird thinks of another breeze of freedom because the bird has never known anything
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees else but the cage. The bird does not completely know
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn what the freedom will bring but knows that it will be
and he names the sky his own. better than the cage that it is in.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams Commented [4]: This stanza talks about that even the
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream bird that isn't caged still has wants and is longing for
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied things it does not have. The bird that isn't caged will
so he opens his throat to sing. never have a care for the caged bird because it is too
focused on its own wants and needs.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill Commented [5]: The caged bird understands the
of things unknown inevitability fate that it is going to reach, but still sings in
but longed for still
hope that no other bird will have to live the life that it
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
has had to live.
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
Commented [6]: I'm going to infer that this poem is
about Maya Angelou and her fight in Civil Rights. She
doesn't believe that she will be able to ever leave her
cage but she can use her words to prevent her fate for
other people.