Caged Bird
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.
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 tree
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.
How does this poem make you feel sad or tragic and empathetic for the bird sentimental? Is the aspects good in the poem yes and why?
This poem evokes a sense of sadness and tragedy as it contrasts the freedom of a free bird with the confinement and limitations of a caged bird. The imagery of the free bird soaring in the sky, feeling the warmth of the sun and enjoying the beauty of nature creates a feeling of joy and liberation, which is then sharply contrasted with the caged bird's restricted existence. The use of words like "rage" and "nightmare scream" to describe the caged bird's emotions further emphasizes the sense of frustration and suffering.
The poem also elicits empathy for the bird by highlighting its longing for freedom and its inability to fulfill those desires due to the constraints imposed upon it. The repetitive refrain of the caged bird's "fearful trill" and the mention of its tune being heard on a distant hill create a sense of longing and hope, but at the same time, a feeling of helplessness.
The aspects that make this poem effective and good are the powerful and vivid imagery used, the skillful use of repetition to emphasize the bird's confinement and longing for freedom, and the way it captures the universal desire for liberation and the pain of being unable to attain it. The poem reflects the themes of oppression, resilience, and the human yearning for freedom in a concise and emotionally impactful manner.