I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Guest blog post by Susan Scott Estep

I haven’t written anything for a while until recently, after looking through some of my favorite books. I ran across a few of Maya Angelou’s writings and that’s where my title for this short story begins.

My take or interpretation of the title seems to blend with Maya’s.

The Cage is a means of control, whether it be an animal or human. The bird’s tiny but mighty voice sings for its freedom. It dreams of one day flying away to never return to its bondage.

I remember as a child, my maternal Grandmother had a caged pet parakeet. She loved the little birds and when one died, she would get another. The little parakeet sang its heartfelt melody with the more attention she gave it.

One day, Grandmother decided to let the little bird fly around the house to be out of its cage for a while. I watched as the bird lit on the curtains and flew around and into the kitchen area where its cage was.

Then suddently, the screen door flew open, and my cousin Charlie (about 9 years old) ran in. However, as he ran in, the parakeet flew out the open door.

My Grandmother screamed in terror as she watched her beloved pet fly away. For a brief moment it lit on a nearby tree, but as Grandmother got close enough to grab him, the bird burst into the air and disappeared, never to return.

Sometimes cages are self-imposed and sometimes they are forced. Whatever the case, cages are not good! It holds us down to realize who we are or who we could be.

We will sing our hearts out like the caged bird until the voice with us that has been stifled can be heard, felt, and understood.

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Susan would love to hear from others who have ever felt like a “caged bird.”

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Susan Scott Estep has been a long time friend, sending me frequent stories which were published in the Valley Living magazine I edited for a number of years; in 2022 she published her own book of stories and poems, titled “Dragonfly Lite Gently.” I assisted her on that book because she has limited eyesight in recent years. Earlier she worked as a geriatric and psychiatric social worker and enjoyed creating art. (Susan’s faithful dog for many years.)

Maya Angelou was a poet, essayist, and civil rights activist, born in 1928 and died in 2014. Angelou’s series of seven autobiographies focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. Her first, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” brought her international recognition and acclaim. (from Wikipedia)