Caged Bird [extended metaphors]

BY  MA YA A NGE LO U

A free bird leaps [white americans]

on the back of the wind   [they’re very free; white supremacy]
and floats downstream   [they can flow with a river body]
till the current ends [current ends at oceans]
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays [sunsets sunrises]
and dares to claim the sky. [dare to claim anything in the country]

But a bird that stalks (pacing) [black americans]

down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage [anger caused by entrapment; lack of freedom thereof; thus this
incapability of choice results in a caused anger and rage]
his wings are clipped and   
his feet are tied [so they can’t get freedom, no way to run or fly]
so he opens his throat to sing. [that’s why they speak out loud]

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   [scared of repression]
of things unknown   [they don’t know what freedom is like]
but longed for still   [he still wants it]
and his tune is heard   
on the distant hill   [it could be a loud shout; many people could be loud]
for the caged bird   
sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze [to look for help elsewhere where there
might be inherent success]
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees [migration from north to
south for warmer temperatures; the wind makes sound passing through the
trees]
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn [in the north there are no fat
worms and lawns; this is in the warm areas that they can find when they
migrate; these are the opportunities for the white men]
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.