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This topic is about The Collected Poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar

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Paul Laurence Dunbar > Dunbar: Sympathy

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message 1: by grllopez (new) - rated it 5 stars

Jan 17, 2024 07:44AM

grllopez ~ with freedom and books (with_freedom_and_books) | 140 comments

The poet describes a caged bird that flaps its wings in vain, imprisoned inside bars, perched upon its man-made branch, longing to be free; yet, nonetheless sings. Why? Because all it can do is sing, and it sings with a yearning to be free.

Dunbar writes this poem because he can sympathize with the caged bird.

And now I know why Maya Angelou titled her autobiography, I know why the caged bird sings.

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