I know why the caged bird sings---玛雅·安吉洛

A free bird leaps on the back 一只自由的小鸟跳上风的背

Of the wind and floats downstream 　 侧翼向下游滑翔

Till the current ends and dips his wing 直到气流结束，就着桔色的阳光

In the orange suns rays　浸染翅膀

And dares to claim the sky.　并敢于向天空，申明主张

But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage 但是伯德[注]阔步进入他狭窄的牢笼

Can seldom see through his bars of rage 极少能把铁栏的愤怒看到尽头

His wings are clipped and his feet are tied　他的翅膀被剪短，双脚被束缚

So he opens his throat to sing.因此它歌唱――敞开喉咙

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill 笼子里的小鸟用耸然的颤音

Of things unknown but longed for still　歌唱未知，但坚持渴望

And his tune is heard on the distant hill for　歌声传到远方的山顶

The caged bird sings of freedom.　为笼子里的小鸟点亮自由

The free bird thinks of another breeze　自由的小鸟想起另一阵微风

And the trade winds soft through　那同行柔软的缠绕

The sighing trees穿过叹息的树丛

And the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright肥胖的虫子守在黎明明媚的草坪

Lawn and he names the sky his own.　他用天空为自己命名

But a caged BIRD stands on the grave of dreams但是一个囚笼的伯德站在理想的坟头

His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream 他的幽灵发出恶梦样的尖叫

His wings are clipped and his feet are tied　 他的羽翅被剪断，双脚被缚住

So he opens his throat to sing. 所以他要歌唱，只能张开喉咙

The caged bird sings with 笼子中的小鸟用耸然的颤音

A fearful trill of things unknown歌唱未知，但坚持渴望

But longed for still and his但是他的歌声

Tune is heard on the distant hill传到远方的山顶

For the caged bird sings of freedom.为笼子中的小鸟点亮自由

注：伯德，英文名字，与英文词小鸟同词同音。本诗正是借用了这个完美的意象。