Maya Angelou,she was a phenomenon woman, a poet and an author who I looked up to.I love poetry but hers was just exceptional.She could capture my heart through her incredible yet simple words in her poem.She was known as “America’s most visible black female autobiographer”,having written six autobiographical volumes depicting both her childhood and adult experiences.
One of the most amazing ones I love is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings(1969).She normally would recite her own poems and believe you me you would just fall in love with it.Here’s the poem I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings(1969) by Maya Angelou.
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 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.
Among other of her great poems are Alone, A Conceit,Insomniac,A Brave and Startling Truth,A Plagued Journey,Men,Still I rise,The Detached,Phenomenal Woman,Passing Time etc.She will surely be forever remembered through her poems.
Phenomenally human 