It's Poetry Thursday Again

It's Poetry Thursday again. Here's a poem from one of my favorite poets -- Maya Angelou. Actually she's one of my favorite people in the world. She's my hero. A couple years ago, my law firm had her come speak at one of our retreats. My law firm is a fairly conservative place full of old white men. I was very surprised to see that she had been hired (at great expense and effort) to speak to the firm's nearly 800 attorneys. I was even more surprised, though I probably should not have been, at the awed reception that she received. I expected that I, black woman, would want to fall at her feet. I did not expect that we all would be completely rapt and completely enthralled by the sage and miraculous presence on the stage before us.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

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
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 fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and is tune is heard
on the distant hillfor the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
an 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