This poem was very inspiring to me. Hope it is for anybody reading this. This poem will mean something to you only if you understand the true meaning of it. It is about two birds, one caged and one free. It shows the differences between them. It talks about how a free bird is confident and a caged bird has fear. This can be applied to one’s own life. A child of two will not do what you want it to do. It will do what it wants to do. This is when one is like a free bird. As we grow older our minds develop into cages that restrict us. Clips are fastened on our wings and feet are tied, we are then helpless. We become nothing but caged birds that do nothing but sing of that time when we were free. If you are a child then you would have heard your parents tell you not to waste time during your childhood. They say time flies too quickly. This will not happen if you don’t let cage yourself. Maybe that was a little too much lecturing, but however old you are don’t let yourself be caged. Be free in your mind.

THE CAGED BIRD

A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun’s 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.
-MAYA ANGELOU

(if you are wondering why all the lines don’t start with a capital it is because the poetess wants it that way. Seems like she has become a free bird. She does it her way. )
Be a free bird,
Janani Eswar