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