The poem is about freedom. What does it feel like to be free? What are the consequences if you are caged?
It led to some very interesting discussions during the workshop as the children tried to define what freedom was...
I think it means you can do what you like
No... you can't just do what you want. There have to be rules.
Yeah... I mean, you can't cheek your mum. We have to go to school.
I think it means that you aren't in a cage... you can make some choices.
Four of our pupils then performed the poem at the Festival in front of three other schools.
Why not have a go at reading and performing the poem yourself?
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
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 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.
