I Know Not Why The Caged Bird Screams

I Know Not Why The Caged Bird Screams

By: Ethan West

She lies inside her cage and screams

A song of sorts by end of means

Locked up for words which she had none

Locked up for nothing she had done

Innocent eyes and painted face

I saw when I upon this place

And then and then I cannot see

Why she lay there quietly

I tried and tried but could not budge

The padlocked birdcage door

I cried and cried and did not judge

She lay there now forevermore

Her beauty in this night so pure

A light of white like crystal mirror

I tried and tried to save her fate

I tried and tried to give her faith

I left that barren door unmanned

But the keys were hiding in her hand...

Author's Note

I wrote this for someone very dear to me who's going through a hard time. Please give me any feedback you can I really really appreciate it.

Reviews

[Alyssa Carlstrom]

This totally describes my life and the way it used to be, so you touched my heart. But that's my past.
I love how you said "But the keys were hiding in her hand...", it spoke truth. The keys were always in my hand, I just had to decide to let myself out. Keep up the good work! This poem is absolutely beautiful.

[ewest1220]

Thank you so much! I'm really glad that my work meant something for you and I'm thrilled you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading!

[Amanda]

It's sort of sinister/sad and cryptic. Good job!

[ewest1220]

Thanks!

[Amanda]

As always, not a problem :) thanks for the read request

[Anonymous Girl]

Its fantastic. ^.^

[ewest1220]

Thanks!

[Anonymous Girl]

Its okay

[Yheela]

Beautiful about something dreadful.

[ewest1220]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed my work!

[brianna vega]

I left that barren door unmanned

But the keys were hiding in her hand...
.....

sometimes people can only help them selves. good job.

[ewest1220]

Very true, very true. Thanks!

[Matty Bosox]

Wow...I was given this as a request to read it from somebody else...Let me just say that I am glad they did!! This is absolutely astounding in everyway!!! If only a bird could talk in such a manner, I really don't think they would be caged at all...This is far from beautiful, far from emtional, far from descriptive...This is an absolutely amazing ball of every single one of those rolling at amazing speeds down an ally and smashing over every single pin...Exploding them in a great ball of fury and flame....This poem did the same for me...Knocked me down!!! Eh in a good way LoL Keep it up!!!

[ewest1220]

I think this review knocked me down as well... in a good way! Thank you so much my friend I'm thrilled you enjoyed my work!

[Krisen Lison]

This is beautifully well done. I can feel the emotion and it reminds me of my own past. Your poetry speaks to me.

[ewest1220]

I'm really glad that it speaks to you and I'm thrilled you enjoyed my work! Thank you so much for reading!

[Ghost of Jupiter]

Gorgeous write that is personally one i needed to read. Sometimes the Caged Birds can't see the key is in their hands, it takes someone very special to point that out. This poem is a beautiful way of bringing that to light. Very well done.

[ewest1220]

Wow I'm really glad you feel this way about my work. Thank you so much for reading!

[Megan]

Interesting. Often times people are stuck in a rut, stuck in a struggle. And the observer wants so much to help, to free that special person in there. That observer gazes upon their beauty. That observer can see it. But perhaps the one in the cage can't. Nevertheless, only the one in the struggle can pull through it, like you subtly express through the last line. I enjoyed all the meaning and story conveyed in such a short poem. Also enjoy the title. Not sure if it is supposed to be an allusion to Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings or not. But, great write. And best wishes to your friend. What an amazing thing it is to free oneself from a restricting cage, or in other circumstances, learn how to "sing" in the midst of hard situations, rather than scream.

[ewest1220]

The title was absolutely an allusion to Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, one of my favorite short stories actually. Thank you so much for reading I'm thrilled you enjoyed this piece!

[emilythestrange]

OMG this is th best poem ever!!!!!! I love this! Every single stanza, line, word, syllable, letter........Perfect!!!!!!!!

[ewest1220]

Wow! Thank you so much for your kind words and I'm thrilled you liked this piece! Thank you so much for reading!

[emilythestrange]

It's gone straight into my library! It's perfect!

[Brandon Mathis]

I hope who ever it was makes it through. i myself have struggled with drugs and i can relate to this poem, very nice work!!

[ewest1220]

I hope she makes it through as well... But hey thank you so much for reading I'm really glad you liked it!

[Brandon Mathis]

I like all your poems man this just the one i relate to the most, i'ts a hard struggle to go through, i'm just that she has someone that loves her enough to express the feelings about it for her will to get better