I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings


The free bird leaps on the back of the win


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


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.


                       I