How Can He Sing?

I asked myself this question
How can the caged bird sing
With freedom gone and locked away
Where it cannot spread its wings

Maybe it has something to do
With blooming where you are
Maybe it has something to do
With being content within the bars

Could it be that he was never free
And so he misses it not
If he could taste some freedom
Would his singing then be stopped

If he was returned to his prison
Behind those bars again
Would he still sing so sweetly
Or would he think of where he's been

And if he was given freedom
Would he sing a sweeter song
With wings outstretched and flying high
Above the world so strong

I wonder if the caged bird knows
That this is not his home
Or if he has never known the truth
That most birds don't sing alone

Freedom is the blessing
That the caged bird has never known
No wonder he still can sing
For he has never flown

Above the trees so gracefully
With birds that are like him
Except that they are happy
Sitting on the highest limb

The caged bird sings so sweetly
because ignorance is bliss
He thinks this is the only life
And he knows not what he's missed

Turn that caged bird free a while
Then return him to where he's been
Without the freedom that he's known
I think he will never sing again

© Mary E. Rogers 04/13/07

by Thurman P. Woodfork