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.
- Excerpt from "The Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou -
One of the United States' most decorated poets and authors, Maya Angelou burst onto the literary scene with her highly acclaimed autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" in 1969. She is renowned for being among the first African-Americans to write about the intimate details of her personal life.