Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar
I know what the caged bird feels, alas! When the sun is bright on the upland slopes; When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass, And the river flows like a stream of glass; When the first bird sings and the first bud opes, And the faint perfume from its chalice steals-- I know what the caged bird feels! I know why the caged bird beats his wing Till its blood is red on the cruel bars; For he must fly back to his perch and cling When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
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"I know what the caged bird feels, alas!..."
"Sympathy" by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a nature and spiritual english poem consisting of 23 lines. This English poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar demonstrates the timeless power of verse to capture complex human emotions. Beginning with "I know what the caged bird feels, alas! When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;...", this piece explores themes of nature and spiritual through vivid imagery and emotional resonance. The work invites contemplation on the deeper currents of life, love, and the human condition. Paul Laurence Dunbar's celebrated body of poetry continues to inspire readers across generations and cultures, and this particular work stands as a powerful example of their artistic vision.