A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
on the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky
But a bird that stalks
down the narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but long 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
By: Maya Angelou
