The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
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
fearful trill of
the things unknown but
longed for still and
is tune is heard on
the distant hill for the caged bird sings
of freedom
The free bird thinks of another breeze
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
