Thursday, April 4, 2013

National Poetry Month: Day 4: Maya Angelou "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"



Happy Thursday!

This Day 4 of National Poetry Month. How many poems have you written so far?

Today is Dr. Maya Angelou's 85th birthday and since she has been such an influential American poet, a list of favorite poems would be incomplete without her brilliance.

Take time and enjoy one of her most famous pieces below...

Love,

-T. Amour

**NO copyright infringement is intended**

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
by: Dr. Maya Angelou

The free bird leaps 
on the back of the wind 
and floats downstream 
till the current ends
and dips his wings 
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 fearful trill of the things unknown 
but longed for still 
and is tune is heard 
on the distant hill for the caged bird 
sings of freedom 

The free bird thinks of another breeze 
an 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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