Song of a Caged Bird

Verse 1:

When you're trapped inside a lonely space,

tryin' to find your right place,

it's like tryin' to

put a circle in a square.

You'll never fit quite the same.

A corner is always left blank.

You can only hope

a circle comes along some day.

 

Chorus:

A song can slip through the bars,

no matter where you are.

Its the only piece of you that can escape.

I know why

the caged bird sings.

 

Verse 2:

When you live behind your lies,

tryin' to find a place for truth to hide,

falsehoods makes up a mask,

tightening up the straps,

binding you to something untrue.

It seems like insanity to think

you can ever break free.

 

Chorus:

A song can slip through the bars,

no matter where you are.

It's the only piece of you that can esacpe.

I know why

the caged bird sings.

 

Verse 3:

Your real self cowers down,

too terrified

to step outside.

Clipped wings make you scared to fly.

But when you part your lips and sing,

you true light takes center ring.

You don't have to hide

behind a cage of lies.

The door is wide open.

You spread your wings,

escape your petty reasonings.

Your mask is left behind.

You are free to fly.

 

Outro:

A song is the only way

to make it through a gloomy day.

Nothing can hold it in.

I know why the caged bird sings.

 

Yeah, I know why the caged bird sings.

Reviews

[Ellen Hammond]

This is very well penned with the exception of a couple typos:
The 3rd line in verse 2: "falsehoods makes up a mask," you need to drop the 'S' from either 'falsehoods' or from 'makes'.

The 6th line in verse 3: "you true light takes center ring." you need to add an 'R' to the 'you'.

Other than that, this is an amazing poem/song that is inspires hope and recognizes that freedom is subjective. Nice work.

[emmajoy]

What a wonderfully mature piece of writing .. the meter's strong in most places, far better than mine.

Love the theme too .. sad yet happy, happy yet sad .. there's a real feeling of 'will be', hope .. and yes, sing out, whether in vocals or writing or talking .. that way you can't feel caged .. you can only feel alive!

Your poem has strangely made me feel very happy.

[Mark]

You may wish to be a little careful, when borrowing lines from other poets, to make sure they are credited, lest slanderous accusations are made against you. The line, "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" is the title and theme of a poem by Maya Angelou. But there are worse models you could have emulated, so I now see that you have not only ability, but taste as well! (In my poem, "The Plan", I used a line from Carl Sandburg's "The Fog", so I know whereof I speak!)

[Lee M Eledge]

Very groovy
Good job!