Caged Bird
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
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 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.
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.
-Maya Angelou
In and Out of Time
The Sun has come out
The Mists have gone
We see in the distance
Our long way home
I was yours to love
You were always mine
We have belonged together
In and out of time
When the first stone looked
Up at the blazing sun
And the first tree struggled
From the forest floor
I loved you more
You were the rhythm on the head
Of the conga drum
And the brush of palm
On my nut brown skin
And I loved you then
We worked the cane
And cotton fields
We trod together
The city streets
Wearied by labor
Bruised by cruelty
Strutting and sassy
To our inner beat
And all the while
Lord, how I loved your smile
You’ve freed your braids
Gave you hair to the breeze
It hummed like a hive
Of busy bees
I reached into the mass
For the honeycomb there
God, how I loved your hair
You saw me bludgeoned
By circumstance
Injured by hate
And lost to chance
Legs that could be broken
But knees that would not bend
Oh, you loved me then
I raked the Heaven’s belly
With torrid screams
I fought to turn
Nightmares into dreams
My protests were loud
And brash and bold
My, how you loved my soul
The sun has come out
The mists have gone
We see in the distance
Our long way home
I was yours to love
And you were always mine
We have belonged together
In and out of time
