Pub 3 "The Fight to Be Understood"

            Sometimes people feel like no one really understands them or like they’re being pushed into a box. Music and poetry are two ways artists share these feelings. In the songs “Telekinesis” by Travis Scott and “Cry for Me” by The Weeknd, and the poems “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks and “Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou, the writers talk about what it’s like to feel trapped or not truly seen. Whether it’s because of fame, fear, or the way society expects people to act, these artists show how hard it can be to be yourself. Even though each piece sounds a little different, some are strong and rebellious, while others are sad and quiet, they all deal with the same idea about feeling stuck in a world that doesn’t really listen. The artists use repeating words and real emotions to show the their struggles 

             In Gwendolyn Brooks’s poem “We Real Cool” and Travis Scott’s song “Telekinesis,” both artists show that going against the rules might seem fun or exciting, but it can also lead to trouble. In the poem, a group of boys skips school and tries to act tough. Brooks writes, “We  Lurk late. We  Strike straight. We Sing sin” (Brooks Gwendolyn, lines 3–5), which shows they’re living dangerously. But then the poem ends with, “We  Die Soon” (Brooks Gwendolyn, line 8), which shows that their choices could lead to something bad. In “Telekinesis,” Travis Scott raps about fame and power, saying, “They just be talkin', I turn my back and I leave 'em.” (Travis Scott) He sounds like he’s in control, but underneath that, you can tell he feels distant and maybe even alone. Just like the boys in the poem, he’s trying to figure out who he really is. So even though both the poem and the song seem confident on the outside, they both hint at sadness and show that being a rebel isn’t always as great as it seems.

              Maya Angelou’s poem “Caged Bird” and The Weeknd’s song “Cry for Me” both talk about what it feels like to be hurt and stuck. In “Caged Bird,” Angelou compares a person to a bird that can’t fly because its wings are clipped. She writes, “But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams, his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream” (Maya Angelou lines 27–28). Even though the bird is trapped, it keeps singing which is how it shows its strength. In “Cry for Me,” The Weeknd isn’t trapped in a cage, but he feels heartbroken and wants someone to understand his pain. He sings, “I want you to cry for me, cry for me, Say you’d die for me.” (The Weeknd) His feelings come out as more desperate and emotional. Both the poem and the song use repeating words and strong pictures to show how hard it is when people don’t listen or understand you. The poem sounds more serious and proud, while the song sounds more sad and begging but both show how people can feel stuck and still want their voice to matter.

              In “We Real Cool” and “Telekinesis,” Brooks and Scott talk about rebellion and finding who you are, while Angelou and The Weeknd focus on emotional pain and feeling stuck. All four artists use repetition and rhythm to show strong emotions. Brooks repeats “We” to show the group’s unity, but ends with tragedy, while The Weeknd repeats his chorus, almost begging to be noticed. These patterns help us feel the speakers’ emotions like confidence, sadness, or desperation. Each piece also shows how society often puts people in boxes based on race, fame, or emotions, making it hard to escape. In the end, all these artists want to be seen for who they truly are. Together, “We Real Cool,” “Caged Bird,” “Telekinesis,” and “Cry for Me” show how music and poetry express the pain of feeling misunderstood. Whether it’s a poem about a trapped bird or a rapper wanting to escape some sort of pain, True freedom comes from within, not from how others see you.

Work Cited 

Angelou, Maya. “Caged Bird.” Poetry Foundation

 (Angelou Maya)

Brooks, Gwendolyn. “We Real Cool.” Poetry Foundation

(Brooks Gwendolyn)

Scott, Travis. “Telekinesis.” Utopia, Cactus Jack / Epic Records, 2023.

(Travis Scott)

The Weeknd. “Cry for Me.” Hurry up Tomorrow, XO / Republic Records, 2025.

(The Weeknd)