How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #4
When he beats his bars and he would be free;
It is not a carol of joy or glee,
But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core (17-19)
In these lines, the speaker tells us in a very clear way what the bird wants: he wants to be "free." His action of beating the bar with his wings is an expression of his desire for freedom. And the song that he sings isn't a joyful song, it's a "prayer." While the speaker doesn't tell us explicitly what the bird is praying for, we can assume that it's a prayer for freedom.