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 

(Picture: Black red and black, Mark Rothko)