Caged Bird

A free bird leaps


on the back of the wind


and floats downstream


till the current ends


and dips his wing


in the orange sun rays


and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks


down his narrow cage


can seldom see through


his bars of rage


his wings are clipped and


his feet are tied


so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings


with a fearful trill


of things unknown


but longed for still


and his tune is heard


on the distant hill


for the caged bird


sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze


and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees


and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn


and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams


his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream


his wings are clipped and his feet are tied


so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings


with a fearful trill


of things unknown


but longed for still


and his tune is heard


on the distant hill


for the caged bird


sings of freedom.

- Maya Angelou