I believe that the creative people will be an important part of the political landscape over the next couple of years. I believe rights and freedoms are being stripped from the innocent, that people are having their medical-lives upended (or at the very least in limbo – a terrifying place to be without those in charge clarifying what to expect – that is unnecessary stress.) But the creative people tend to be an extra set of “eyes” to the world, to record what is going on, to encourage those who are concerned. In honor of those people, I offer you Caged Bird by Maya Angelou:
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.
