Caged Bird by Maya Angelou

A free bird leapson the back of the windand floats downstreamtill the current ends

and dips his wingsin the orange sun raysand dares to claim the sky. But a bird that stalksdown his narrow cagecan seldom see throughhis bars of ragehis wings are clipped andhis feet are tiedso he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird singswith a fearful trillof things unknownbut longed for stilland his tune is heardon the distant hillfor the caged bird sings of freedom. The free bird thinks of another breezeand the trade winds soft through the sighing treesand the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawnand he names the sky his own. But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreamshis shadow shouts on a nightmare screamhis wings are clipped and his feet are tiedso he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird singswith a fearful trillof things unknownbut longed for stilland his tune is heardon the distant hillfor the caged bird sings of freedom.