POETRY I know why the caged bird sings Maya Angelou

I know why the caged bird sings- Maya Angelou (1969)

A free bird leaps on the back

Of the wind and floats downstream 

Till the current ends and dips his wing 

In the orange suns 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.

Context

This poem was written during the civil rights movement and the struggle in overcoming the racial barrier. Angelou has lived through a time of inequality and racism and she speaks from the perspective of the caged bird who represents black people at this time. The civil rights movement was between 1955 and 1968, and black names were becoming well known in the 60's such as Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Aretha Franklin who were making a difference for black people. 

Language

The "free bird" represents the white man who is free of care, they are described as greedy and unappreciative of black people as they feed on "fat worms". There was also an anger due to the physical segregation and inequality "his bars of rage, his wings clipped" this gives images of slavery and inequality of black people through the eras. This is repeated to add impact and send a strong message that black people being repressed and segregated was just on the surface. 

There is also mention of  black people beginning to be heard "his tune is heard on the distant hill" this represents figures such as Rosa Parks who are starting to make a difference and people are beginning to notice. The use of "grave of dreams" represents the American Dream which is about liberties and freedoms, many black people also had these desires and to be equal in America.

Structure

The  structure is also relevant as it begins with segregation and inequality, however as we move towards the end it speaks more of the future and what is to come for black people. There is mention of hope and although the bird is struggling he is still trying to make a difference and not backing down. The bird is "singing for freedom" and equality which is implied to happen in the future.