Maya Angelou

[andypandy]

Could anyone tell me who wrote the poem from which the title of Maya Angelou's
autobiography "I know why the caged bird sings" was taken. Thanks.

[bibblebub]

Paul Laurence Dunbar

[bibblebub]

and this is the poem http://www.potw.org/archive/potw219.html

[Clanad]

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)
Sympathy

I KNOW what the caged bird feels, alas!
When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;
When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,
And the river flows like a stream of glass;
When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,
And the faint perfume from its chalice steals —
I know what the caged bird feels!

I know why the caged bird beats his wing
Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;
For he must fly back to his perch and cling
When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars
And they pulse again with a keener sting —
I know why he beats his wing!

I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,—
When he beats his bars and he would be free;
It is not a carol of joy or glee,
But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core,
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings —
I know why the caged bird sings!

[Clanad]

So many answers... so little time...

[cathfromsaron]

beautiful x

[tamaris]

Just read the book onto her 2nd one now.