Skip to main content

I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS by Maya Angelou


~Submitted by Savitri Ingga Talahatu~

 This morning my sister asked me to choose a poem by Dr. Maya Angelou, in honor of her birthday today…

  I immediately said, "Yes", without even thinking about the vast body of Dr. Angelou's literary works over the decades and that important question of "which ONE?" 

Dr. Angelou's works have accompanied me in my life's journey since I was a naive young woman in teacher's college in early '80s.  When I was transforming my tomboy-ish existence into that of a woman, I adored her "Phenomenal Woman".  When I left a budding career with UNHCR and found myself as a new immigrant in Canada in the early '90s, her "Alone" and "Still I Rise" spoke to me profoundly. And then there is her first and most highly acclaimed poem, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969)", a truthful and most sincere account of the first seventeen years of her life. Over the years, her strong spirit and messages of courage have inspired so many women, including Oprah Winfrey.

"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" has brought her international recognition and she was nominated for a National Book Award. Dr. Angelou has been awarded over 30 honorary degrees and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her 1971 volume of poetry, "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie".  Imagine my great pleasure when my darling son randomly chose this as a literary project in highschool in the last decade! And so a sweet decision birthed itself. 

Here is a loving tribute to Maya Angelou on her birthday today (and to my beloved son Antonio, for his 27th birthday on April 17).


I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

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.

'I'll Fly With You' Acrylic Painting by Nicole Helbig

Savitri Ingga Talahatu was born and raised in Bali to musician parents from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. She is mother to a grown son and god-mother to a beautiful 17 year old god-daughter.  Savitri has been a multi-disciplinary teacher for almost three decades, having taught in the public system in Indonesia and in Canada, at universities and community colleges, women's shelters and senior residences. She currently teaches bhakti-infused Hatha and Kundalini Yoga classes, facilitates Yoga and Wellness workshops in Toronto, and at an annual Yoga teacher-training program in Bali.  Savitri is also a life coach, holistic health practitioner, labor and post-partum doula, childbirth educator and Reiki Master. You may visit her website Soul Sanctuary here. In her spare time, she plays with a gamelan ensemble since its inception in 2001. You may contact Savitri though e-mail soulsanctuary88@gmail.com Or on facebook here.

*For submission guidelines, click here.*

Comments

  1. Beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing! A great intro to it too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Caged bird is a powerful symbol crafted by the poet to refer to the life of many people on earth. I liked the expression very much because it is rich with an array of meanings. The beauty of the poem is nothing but the use of symbols to depict the sensibilities of the suppressed sections on planet earth. Visit Custom Essay Writing Service for in-depth analysis.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IMAGINE A WOMAN by Patricia Lynn Reilly

  This poem invites you to look upon yourself with loving kindness… Gazing at your own true reflection, you will discover that everything you have longed for “out there” is already within you! I invite you to love your creativity fiercely. Faithfully plant seeds, allowing under-the-ground dormant seasons, nurturing your creative garden with love and gratitude. In the fullness of time, the green growing things thrust forth from the ground. It's a faithful, trustworthy process. AND it takes time and patience.  Blessed is the fruit of your creative womb! I invite you to trust your vision of the world and express it. With wonder and delight, paint a picture, create a dance, write a book, and make up a song. To give expression to your creative impulses is as natural as your breathing. Create in your own language, imagery, and movement. Follow no script. Do not be limited by the customary way things have been expressed. Your creative intuition is original. Gather

IMBOLC by Caroline Mellor

The inspiration for this poem came after I watched a magical winter sunset and full moonrise from the top of Firle Beacon in the South Downs... Unusually for me, I wrote the poem quite quickly and changed it very little before publishing it – perhaps the energies were working through my pen! Imbolc is the mid-point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s a fire festival which I particularly love because of its associations with Brigid, the Celtic Mother Goddess of arts and crafts, clear sight, healing, inspiration and nurturance of creative talents – something which, through my writing, I am always trying to connect with.  I also love Imbolc because, with so much darkness and negativity in the world today, it is a time for hope, potential, visioning and initiation. With love and blessings as the light returns. Photography by Chanel Baran IMBOLC    by Caroline Mellor I am the dream of awakening. I am the returning of the night.  I am the tough green

WINTER SOLSTICE: A GIFT OF LOVE by Carolyn Riker

I’ve had several days now of alone time… It is unusual and a gift that I couldn’t see until I breathed it. I have been able to watch the sun’s rise through the grey of dawn and smile at the flickers of frost melting on the waving boughs of evergreen. It’s unique to follow daylight as it traverses the tempo of a cat’s soft slumbering purr. Night comes swifter and the glow of candles and the flames of fire comfort me more than the steady stream of always-doing-more. As much as I resisted, I needed this break. I had no idea how much my body was trying to tell me   slow down   until the exhaustion settled in around my joints. My eyes swam in molasses. Heaviness of I-can’t-hold-out-much-long, walked me to the throne of my nest. It’s winter’s gift of self-nurturing and love. It’s been a quiet proclamation of femininity and a need for comfort foods. Lemon crisps and cranberry, white-chocolate shortbread dipped in tea; I felt a hint of being pampered without