tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176279472011-04-21T21:35:19.753-07:00Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03234518773785368721noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17627947.post-1128809388372805152005-10-08T15:07:00.000-07:002005-10-08T15:12:20.826-07:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7226/848/1600/Caged%20Bird%20Sings1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7226/848/200/Caged%20Bird%20Sings1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I know what the caged bird feels, alas! <br />When the sun is bright on the upland slopes; <br />When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass, <br />And the river flows like a stream of glass; <br />When the first bird sings and the first bud opens, <br />And the faint perfume from its chalice steals-- <br />I know what the caged bird feels!<br /><br />I know why the caged bird beats his wing <br />Till its blood is red on the cruel bars; <br />For he must fly back to his perch and cling <br />When he fain would be on the bough a-swing; <br />And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars <br />And they pulse again with a keener sting-- <br />I know why he beats his wing!<br /><br />I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, <br />When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,-- <br />When he beats his bars and he would be free; <br />It is not a carol of joy or glee, <br />But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core, <br />But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings-- <br />I know why the caged bird sings! <br /><br />-Paul Laurence Dunbar<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/17627947-112880938837280515?l=lifeinthecage.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03234518773785368721noreply@blogger.com1