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.

 

“Maya Angelou 1983”

 

 

This poem describes the feeling of displacement and what it means to be somewhere with your hands and legs tied and not being able to move. The caged birds refer to slaves during slavery. They moved from their countries seeking jobs and a better life yet to find themselves slaves and taken advantage of. Maya Angelou also reflects the displacement of blacks between the North and the South and the trade of slaves and how slaves felt about it. The way I see it is that Maya Angelou chose to use the bird metaphor to describe blacks is because birds are supposed to be free to fly wherever they want without being caged. Segregation is a form of displacement in the way of feeling discomfort and not belonging.