A free bird leaps

from thick branch to thin branch

and never stills

lest he be trapped

running from his future

straight into open sky.

But a bird that stalks

on the dewy grass

prefers the safety

of the land mass

his wings aren’t clipped and

his feet aren’t tied

but he refuses to take wing.

The caged bird sings

on the solid ground

of his great fear

without a sound

so his tune’s not heard

and the bird’s not found

though the caged bird

squawks in terror.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

hopping from twig to twig on shaky knees

praying that the wind won’t blow him off that tree

brave, he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

too afraid to dare to try, though it seems

his wings aren’t clipped and his feet aren’t tied

so why does he fear to take flight?

The caged bird sings

on the solid ground

of his great fear

without a sound

so his tune’s not heard

his courage not found

though the caged bird

cries in terror.

-~eap~