Number Six: Maya Angelou

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Poet: Maya Angelou

Poem: "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings"


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The free bird leaps

On the back of the wind

And floats downstream

Till the current ends

And dips his wings

In the orange 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 sings

With a fearful trill

Of the 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.

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