National Black Poetry Day: "Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou

This poem compares the movements and songs of a caged bird to those of a free bird. Read the full text here.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. current
    a steady flow of a fluid or gas
    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 rays
    and dares to claim the sky.
  2. claim
    demand as being one's due or property
    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 rays
    and dares to claim the sky.
  3. stalk
    walk stiffly
    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.
  4. seldom
    not often
    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.
  5. rage
    a feeling of intense anger
    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.
  6. clipped
    cut or trimmed short
    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.
  7. trill
    a note that alternates with another note a semitone above it
    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.
  8. breeze
    a slight and usually refreshing wind
    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.
  9. dawn
    the first light of day
    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.
  10. grave
    a place for the burial of a corpse
    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.
Created on Tue Oct 10 10:50:20 EDT 2023 (updated Tue Oct 10 17:04:08 EDT 2023)

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