A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
– Caged Bird, by Maya Angelou
It is definitely not the first time I feature and quote this poem, and this is not one to be taken literally. But today I shall, as it is most fitting to say farewell to little Netty, our rescue sparrow who dropped into our lives last weekend.
As I expected, Netty lost her strength in the end, in spite of putting on a good fight for two days. She was temperamental and feisty, so I had hopes for her recovery and looked forward to releasing her back into the wild where she belongs. It was not meant to be and on Monday afternoon she left us.
Netty didn’t stay long enough in our lives to be sad about her departure. Nevertheless, it was a lesson on detachment and letting go, and we all need those from time to time, as we allow ourselves to get entangled in the practical side of life.
FrogDiva Thoughts 