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!

[Rox Bain ☮]

"I left that barren door unmanned
But the keys were hiding in her hand..."

...Wow... this line is incredible. I adore the message that it sends and the way in which you convey it. The metaphor of the caged bird is also one that I LOVE. I enjoy reading your writing because you have so many different styles and types of rhyming schemes... I can't help but be drawn in...

[ewest1220]

Wow, once again I'm really thrilled that you enjoyed my work! Thank you so much for reading!

[Androglossia]

Your writing talks about sorrow. Well, sorrow plays a vital rule in our lives. It comes in many guises and it torments us in many ways. And once our ego is damaged by it, we start to build walls seeing it a defense when in fact we are creating our own prison to lock ourselves out because the truth is we are just as scared and helpless.

It has to be emphasized again and again that the true purpose of sorrow is to infuse us with light and wisdom. It is the burning of the impurities of the metal before the golden statue is made. The creation of the sculpture through the painful process of cutting, hitting, chiseling and polishing.

Sorrow is but the disguised master of enlightenment:)

Your poem is emotionally driven. You have an excellent flow of speech in a premeditated fashion. You're good at writing in a formal metrical pattern that easily contrasts thoughts expressed in different units.

Well done!

[ewest1220]

Phew what a review! I really do thank you for all of that input and I'm absolutely thrilled that you enjoyed my work! :) Thank you so much for reading!

[David the writer]

Wow dude, nice poem! I don't know if it was better than Edgar Allen Poe mainly because I haven't read any of his works. I can't find any, but I feel as though I need to give you more thanks and love for sharing this poem. I also want to ask you to join a group called Poetic Justice. We could really use a talented poet like you

[ewest1220]

Absolutely! Can you send me an invite?

[David the writer]

Yeah, bro hold on i'll you get one

[ewest1220]

lol I'm already I member I just found out XP

[David the writer]

Nice bro! Welcome to, Poetic Justice!

[Pax]

i really like this line:
I tried and tried to save her fate
I tried and tried to give her faith

i hope she will be ok...
wonderful and brilliant rhyme..enjoyed it.

[ewest1220]

Me too my friend, me too. But anyways lol I'm glad you enjoyed it and thank you so much for giving me a read!

[Jose]

Most of us are like her unwilling to untie ourselves from the plight of being fastened to an idea that's slowly rusting us

[ewest1220]

Good point. I'm glad you liked it though thank you for reading!

[Polaroid Impossible]

I can totally relate to this mate.. Incredible. So simple, yet so effective

[ewest1220]

I'm glad you can relate my friend and I'm thrilled that you enjoyed my work! Thanks for reading!

[poeticpiers]

sometimes my friend we build or own cages for protection only to find they have become prisons.

[ewest1220]

I think we've all been there my friend. Great input I'm thrilled you enjoyed my work and thank you for reading!

[J. E. Letan]

Good job, cohesive thoughts that had a definite purpose and meaning. What more can be said of expressive literature.

[ewest1220]

Very true, very true. I'm glad you liked it thanks for reading!

[Tattered Teddy]

Very well done, it reminds me of Poe but also of course of Angelou. Good piece.

[ewest1220]

It ended up being kind of a weird hybrid didn't it? Both of them are writers that I really enjoy. But anyways I'm really grateful that you read my work and I'm thrilled that you liked it! Thanks for reading!