Inspired by Sympathy. By Paul Laurence Dunbar.

 

I know why the caged bird sighs.

Heart lost by years of promises spoken

Chilled by the deception of expressed lies

Their truths, falsehoods shrouded in disguise

Guarantees, unlike the cage bars, broken.

Resignedly watching the years roll by.

Opportunities lost to fly

 

I know why the caged bird cries

Ignored, neglected, socially distanced

Till the cage keeper needs an easy prize

Held down, browbeaten, with no chance to rise.

Hard existence, marginal subsistence

Bars, like thin fingers, clenching to a fist

Opportunities to fly, missed

 

I know why the caged bird dries,

Their protest songs, sung with vivacity

Throat, hoarse, shouting commonsense at the wise

Who are blinded to their vaporous lies.

Protesting is losing capacity.

Soon, spirits are crushed, unable to fly

I know how the caged birds die