Caged Bird Poem by Shirley Harrison

If it wasn't for my gentle heart
my feathers would have burned fiercely
a soul that once had light
my freedom just a memory

I must reject these tiresome thoughts
that savage my taunted mind
reduce them to a petal of hope
with harmony entwined

I wish for the day
empathy opens my cage
and lets me fly away
at least she knows I'll do my best
determined, come what may

with forceful winds that once were tender
blowing me into the blazing sun
my courageous assumption of what could be
is yet to be undone.

lightning strike my sorrowed heart
if I cannot be me,
compassion strike my cage tonight

and let my mind fly free