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.
Oprah said, “Meeting Maya on those pages was like meeting myself in full,” when she read Maya Angelou’s ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ for the first time. She continued, “My experience as a young black girl was finally acknowledged.” Art matters because it validates someone’s experience, makes them believe that they are not alone, and tells them that their life matters even if the smallest cell in their body says they are nothing.
The friendship between Oprah and Angelou was very touching at its heart. Maybe it’s because these two amazing ladies overcame incredible obstacles to lead free-spirited, extravagant lives.