3 Poems and Analysis
Caged BirdPoem:
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. |
Analysis: This poem mainly explains the survival of the unfittest. A bird is in a cage with its wings clipped, tied feet, narrow quarters, and bars of rage, however the fragile bird is still able to survive and soar again through its song. The bird emphasizes that it can survive even though it is in the worst conditions, and he can survive it through his soar of singing. Angelou contrasts the struggles of a bird attempting to rise about the limitations of its surroundings with the flight of a bird that is free. Maya Angelou made a connection to this poem on how African Americans had a symbol of downtrodden and how they are treated. Maya though that African Americans are like a caged bird, not able to be with certain people or can't reach a certain goal. Today this issue is not as bad, but in Maya's childhood this issue was a very big problem. This memory was probably why she wrote this poem. Another memory that can relate to this poem is when she was raped when she was a child. This trapped her for five years. She didn't talk, communicate, or get help. When she finally got help, she used her talent and passion of writing to express herself and release herself from the trap. Everyday, I see the issue of racism and bullying for differences between people. Sometimes people feel like they are trapped in a cage where they can't do anything about it. Through all of the things that is bringing these people down, there is a happiness, or talent perhaps, that brings this person back together, just like in the poem. |
Phenomenal WomanPoem:
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size But when I start to tell them, They think I'm telling lies. I say, It's in the reach of my arms The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. I walk into a room Just as cool as you please, And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees. Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees. I say, It's the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. Men themselves have wondered What they see in me. They try so much But they can't touch My inner mystery. When I try to show them They say they still can't see. I say, It's in the arch of my back, The sun of my smile, The ride of my breasts, The grace of my style. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. Now you understand Just why my head's not bowed. I don't shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing It ought to make you proud. I say, It's in the click of my heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, The need of my care, 'Cause I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. |
Analysis:
The title of the poem clearly states what it will be about, a phenomenal woman. Woman these days are very self conscious about themselves. They fear about what others will think of them. The point of this poem was to persuade others to think positively about themselves and how great and phenomenal they are. Maya went through a terrible childhood and probably was self conscious about herself too. But then she realized that she is beautiful just the way she was and that nothing needed to be changed to make herself look beautiful. Today, I know so many people, including myself, who have at least a little bit of self consciousness in them. They think that they need makeup or fancy clothes to impress others and make themselves look beautiful. I had a hard time with this a couple years ago when people thought that you had to wear this certain brand of shoes or clothing that I simply could not afford. I felt ugly and self conscious that I didn't look as pretty as others, and I changed my looks and was still not satisfied. I then gave up and realized that you don't need to have certain things to be a phenomenal woman, you just have to be yourself because you are beautiful on the inside and outside. |
Still I RisePoem:
You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise. |
Analysis:
This poem states that no matter what you are going through, you have to rise above it and move on. If a relative died, or your dog ran away, you should stay in your bed the rest of your life, you should pull yourself together are rise above it. Maya had a very hard and rough childhood, especially when she got raped when she was young. She was very broken and upset. This lead to five years of no communicating with anyone, bringing her whole life down. But after those five years, she realized it was time to rise above the problem and move on in life in a more positive way. Everyday I get ups and downs, happy days and sad days. But when I get those downs, I sometimes do not recover and ponder on that for the rest of the week. I just keep thinking and thinking about it and it worries me sick. But when the week ends, I realize that it was just one of the downs that I will get in my life and I have to rise above it. It can be hard, but it can be done. I know that a lot of people go through this, and that I am not the only person. But with some people, they will not rise above their problem and deal with it in a wrong way like fighting and arguing. The best way to get out of a situation like that is to just rise above it, and FORGET ABOUT IT. |