A Song Flung Up To Heaven

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

his 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 the things unknown

but longer 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

an the trade wind soft through the sighing trees

an the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn

and he naes the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on a 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 longer for still

and his tune is heard on a distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom.

-- Maya Angelou.