'The caged bird' ; 9 May, 2023.

9 May, 2023
Uploaded to ChatGPT for analysis
Poem : “The caged bird.”

Soman Ragavan : Hello. Can I post a poem of mine for analysis, please ?

ChatGPT
Hello Soman Ragavan! Of course, you can post your poem here for analysis. I'd be happy to help you with feedback and insights on your work. Please feel free to share your poem with me.
 
Soman Ragavan : My poem : "The caged bird." This is about keeping birds in cages and all its implications. See the Internet reference. In one French song, children were told to open the cage door to free the birds. At one school a girl did that and the birds flew around. Staff ran to capture the birds and put them back into the cage... Please analyse by each stanza, then give overall comments. Mention similar poems from other authors, where possible.
       
ChatGPT
Thank you for sharing your poem "The Caged Bird" with me, Soman Ragavan. I'll provide feedback on each stanza and then give an overall analysis of your work.

Stanza 1: In this stanza, you use lines from your previous poems to set the tone for "The Caged Bird." The lines "Thou, sanguinary Man ! Undo that chain !" and "Thou, cruel slave driver !" express your view of mankind as being cruel and oppressive towards animals.

Stanza 2: This stanza highlights how humans exploit animals by chaining dogs, caging birds, and hunting animals for sport. You further express your disapproval of these actions by stating that humans have no right to exploit animals in such a manner.

Stanza 3: In this stanza, you directly address mankind as the "inventor of the yoke" and accuse them of belonging to the "cruellest race." You make a bold statement that highlights your disdain for humans' treatment of animals.

Stanza 4: You start this stanza by acknowledging that people admire the beauty of a cardinal bird's song, but then question the morality of capturing birds for human pleasure. You highlight the irony of how a bird's singing voice, which is considered beautiful, can lead to its captivity.

Stanza 5: You express uncertainty about the true meaning behind the "songs" that caged birds produce. You question if they are truly singing with joy or if their songs are actually a lamentation of their captive state.

Stanza 6: You use the analogy of a human being held captive by animals to help the reader understand the perspective of a caged bird. You ask the reader to imagine how the human would feel and then pose the question of how a caged bird feels when it sees its own kind flying free.

Stanza 7: This stanza further explores the idea of a caged bird's song and what it may be communicating. You suggest that the bird's song may actually be an indictment of humanity for its cruel treatment of animals.

Stanza 8: In this stanza, you express sympathy for the caged bird's desire to be free and to have a family. You suggest that the bird's natural instincts have been thwarted by its captivity, and it longs for a life that it may never experience.

Overall, your poem "The Caged Bird" effectively conveys your disapproval of humans' treatment of animals. You use powerful language to express your disdain for the practice of keeping birds in cages, and your use of analogies and questions helps the reader understand the caged bird's perspective.

The structure of your poem is consistent throughout, and your use of rhyme and repetition helps to create a sense of rhythm that makes the poem easy to read. Your style of writing is similar to that of Maya Angelou's poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," which also explores the theme of captivity and freedom through the metaphor of a caged bird.
Overall, your poem is a poignant commentary on the morality of keeping birds in cages, and it effectively conveys your message to the reader.
 
Soman Ragavan : I mention the case of a school in France. Children had heard a French song asking children to free caged birds. At one school children did just that; the birds flew out of the cage. Staff ran to capture the birds again and to put them back into the cage. Your comments ?

ChatGPT
The incident you mentioned is a sad reminder of the disconnect between our actions and their consequences. The children were moved by the message of the song to free the caged birds, but the staff's response to capture the birds and return them to their cages shows how deeply ingrained the practice of keeping animals in captivity is. It also highlights the lack of understanding and empathy towards the needs and desires of animals, who are often treated as objects for our entertainment and pleasure.
It is important to note that the act of releasing captive birds into the wild may not always be the best course of action, especially if the birds have been raised in captivity and are not equipped with the necessary survival skills to thrive in the wild. However, it is crucial that we reflect on the ethical implications of keeping animals in captivity and strive to find more humane and sustainable ways to coexist with them.
 
Soman Ragavan : In jail the guy gets all his basic needs. If he is freed, he might end up begging on the streets, going hungry for a long time, without a roof, without medical care. Should he be kept in jail to avoid such a situation ?

ChatGPT
The purpose of imprisonment is not to provide for the basic needs of an individual, but rather to punish them for their actions and protect society from potential harm. While it is true that some people may struggle to survive after being released from prison, it is not ethical to keep someone in prison solely for the purpose of preventing them from facing such challenges. Instead, efforts should be made to provide support and resources to help individuals successfully reintegrate into society after their release. This includes access to education, job training, housing, and healthcare, among other things. Additionally, preventative measures can be taken to address the root causes of crime, such as poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunities.
 
Soman Ragavan : Thank you. Goodbye for now.

ChatGPT
You're welcome. Feel free to come back if you have more questions in the future. Goodbye!

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                                    POEM :                               
                      THE CAGED BIRD 

“My God, my God : thou, thou, criminal Man …”
---From my poem “Best bargains.”

“Thou, sanguinary Man ! Undo that chain !
Please ! Don't be so heartless and vain !...”
---From my poem “A dog’s life.”

“Dogs Man latches with chains :
Birds he imprisons in cages :
Animals he hunts down in the plains :
Other creatures he treats as savages.

“To exploit animals hath Man no right :
‘Pon all doth he impose his might…”
(…)
“Thou, Man ! Thou, murderer !
Thou, cruel slave driver !
Thou, pitiless plotter !
Thou, merciless marauder !
(…)
“Hear me, thou, inventor of the yoke :
Thou belong’st to the cruellest race….”
---From my poem “The panting ox.”
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                                    POEM :                               
                      THE CAGED BIRD 

Many people admire and praise the cardinal :
The bird sings beautifully.
Like many other birds,
The cardinal is captur’d and caged
For Man’s “pleasure”
Or companionship.
Did the bird ask for this ?...

Did animals at the zoo ask
To be thus jail’d
And exhibit’d to visitors ?...
Birds with a beautiful voice
Become victims of their voices.
They are captur’d and kept captive.

We marvel at the “beautiful” “songs”
Coming from the cage.
Do we even understand
What the “songs” are saying ?...
Are they songs of joy
Or of suffering ?
Are they joyful or
Are they plaints against humanity ?

Imagine this :
A man is captur’d by animals
And kept in a cage.
His family are allow’d to see him :
They gather around his cage
And interact with him.
In time they must leave.

How will he feel when they are leaving ?...
How will he feel thinking they are free
While he himself is thus jail’d
Against his will ?...

He has nothing to do :
It’s boring in the cage.
He takes to singing.
His captors find the songs smashing :
They are marvell’d by that voice.

Do they understand what those songs
Be saying ?...

The cag’d bird “sings.”
Is it really singing
Or is it lamenting on its fate ?...
Do we understand the meaning of the “songs” ?

How should the bird feel
Seeing its kindred flying free
Around the cage
And going back to their nests
And living with their dear ones ?...

How should the bird feel
Seeing its kindred hitting
Against the cage,
Trying to set it free ?...

The bird will be jail’d for a lifetime.
It dearly wants to join its kindred,
It wants to stay in its nest,
It does not want even a “five-star” cage… 

The bird wants to team up with a mate,
It wants to start a family :
Time is going by :
Soon it will be too late…

Like all living creatures,
It has been programm’d
To renew its species.
It wants to do this :
But it is kept prisoner
In a cage…

And its sees its kindred
Flying by in freedom…
It sees little ones of its species
Flying about….
It wants to get similar ones…

How should that bird feel ?...

We marvel at the “songs”
Coming from the cage…
They are songs of
Broken heartedness…
A terrible indictment of humanity…
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--Soman Ragavan
--Uploaded to ChatGPT for analysis on 9 May, 2023. 
--Uploaded to allpoetry.com on 9 May, 2023.
--See the Internet : 
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiEvffkpej-AhW07rsIHdlRAVEQFnoECBEQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lorientlejour.com%2Farticle%2F738894%2FPierre_Perret%25252C_ecologiste_avant_le_temps.html&usg=AOvVaw0Hkqe-3KPINqBXdvgo0TUC 

---Uploaded to mypoeticside.com on 15 June, 2023.

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