Caged Bird

Maya Angelou is one of the most inspirational people in my life. She has many, many poems that I treasure and will keep with me, but Caged bird is one of my very favorites. This beautiful women was a poet, a writer, a dancer, an activist, and many other things in her long and treasured life. Most of all, she had a  beautiful heart, and that heart has inspired me beyond belief. 

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 the 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 fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard 

on a distant hill

for the caged bird

sings for freedom.

- Maya Angelou