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Caged Bird

The poem uses extended metaphors to contrast the experiences of black Americans ("caged bird") and white Americans ("free bird"). The free bird is able to freely fly wherever it wants and claim ownership of the sky, representing the freedom and privileges of white supremacy. In contrast, the caged bird is confined to a small cage, unable to fly or see beyond the bars, representing the lack of freedom and entrapment experienced by black Americans under the oppression of racism. Despite being trapped, the caged bird sings loudly of its longing for freedom.

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69 views2 pages

Caged Bird

The poem uses extended metaphors to contrast the experiences of black Americans ("caged bird") and white Americans ("free bird"). The free bird is able to freely fly wherever it wants and claim ownership of the sky, representing the freedom and privileges of white supremacy. In contrast, the caged bird is confined to a small cage, unable to fly or see beyond the bars, representing the lack of freedom and entrapment experienced by black Americans under the oppression of racism. Despite being trapped, the caged bird sings loudly of its longing for freedom.

Uploaded by

ananya k
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Caged Bird [extended metaphors]

BY  MA YA A NGE LO U

A free bird leaps [white americans]


on the back of the wind   [they’re very free; white supremacy]
and floats downstream   [they can flow with a river body]
till the current ends [current ends at oceans]
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays [sunsets sunrises]
and dares to claim the sky. [dare to claim anything in the country]

But a bird that stalks (pacing) [black americans]


down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage [anger caused by entrapment; lack of freedom thereof; thus this
incapability of choice results in a caused anger and rage]
his wings are clipped and   
his feet are tied [so they can’t get freedom, no way to run or fly]
so he opens his throat to sing. [that’s why they speak out loud]

The caged bird sings   


with a fearful trill   [scared of repression]
of things unknown   [they don’t know what freedom is like]
but longed for still   [he still wants it]
and his tune is heard   
on the distant hill   [it could be a loud shout; many people could be loud]
for the caged bird   
sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze [to look for help elsewhere where there
might be inherent success]
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees [migration from north to
south for warmer temperatures; the wind makes sound passing through the
trees]
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn [in the north there are no fat
worms and lawns; this is in the warm areas that they can find when they
migrate; these are the opportunities for the white men]
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.

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