Break Your Rusty Cage

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
BY MAYA ANGELOU

A free bird leaps on the back
Of the wind and floats downstream
Till the current ends and dips his wing
In the orange suns 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 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.

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.

Rusty Cage
Johnny Cash

You wired me awake
And hit me with a hand of broken nails
You tied my lead and pulled my chain
To watch my blood begin to boil

But I’m gonna break
I’m gonna break my
I’m gonna break my rusty cage and run

I’m gonna break
I’m gonna break my
I’m gonna break my rusty cage and run

Too cold to start a fire
I’m burning diesel, burning dinosaur bones
I’ll take the river down to still waters
And ride a pack of dogs

I’m gonna break
I’m gonna break my
I’m gonna break my rusty cage and run

I’m gonna break
I’m gonna break my
I’m gonna break my rusty cage and run

When the forest burns along the road
Like God’s eyes in my headlights
When the dogs are looking for their bones
And it’s raining icepicks on your steel shore

I’m gonna break
I’m gonna break my
I’m gonna break my rusty cage and run

I’m gonna break
I’m gonna break my
I’m gonna break my rusty cage and run

I’m gonna break
I’m gonna break my
I’m gonna break my rusty cage and run
I’m gonna break
I’m gonna break my
I’m gonna break my rusty cage and run

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuzp_-o3zh8

Discussion Questions:

1. According to Maya Angelou, what are some reasons that a caged bird sings?
2. Other than an actually caged bird, what do you think she is implying with this poem?
3. Do you think it is easier for Johnny Cash to break his rusty cage and run than Maya? Why or why not?