Explain what is meant by the metaphor "a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams."

In 's
famous poem "," she metaphorically contrasts the plight of oppressed African Americans
with the independent, privileged white citizens in American society by contrasting the lives of
a caged bird and a free bird. While the free bird flies uninhibited through the sky, enjoying
the "orange sun rays," the caged bird struggles to see through his "bars of
rage" and sings of freedom.

In the fifth stanza, the narrator writes
that the caged bird "stands on the grave of dreams," which metaphorically represents
the unattained goals and aspirations of oppressed African...