Owl Poem by Thabani Khumalo

HOW ARE YOU BIRDIE IN THE SKY,
HOW IS THE WIND BENEATH YOUR WING,
WILL YOU GIVE ME THE FREEDOM THAT YOU HAVE?
O LET ME SAMPLE YOUR STRENGTH WITHIN.

WITH CHAINS OF SLAVES, I'M BOUND IN CELLS
SO PECK MY SHACKLES - LET ME GO!
LEND ME WINGS SO LET ME SOAR,
TO EVERY EYE, BIRDIE, MAKE ME KNOWN.

MAKE ME FAMOUS, MAKE ME KNOWN -
ACROSS THE CULTURES, MAKE ME KNOWN.
YOU SHOULD KNOW MY NAME AND SING IT OUT -
OUT OF THAT BEAK, ON A SWINGING TWIG.

THEY GROUND ME NOW, EVER, THEY KEEP ME LOW.
YOU DEFY GRAVITY, SO GIVE ME LAWS.
SWEET AS SUGAR - YOUR STATUTES ARE
FOR YOUR EVERY BILL IS BEAT TO SONG.

YOU TURN THE SKY TO A HOST OF STARS
AND MAKE ME GAZE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT,
ON LACID GROUNDS - THE LANDS I STAND -
NOW I SEE, THAT YOU ILLUMINATE.

IF A SONG OF YOURS IS A SONG UNHEARD,
IN THE NIGHT WHEN THE CREEPY CRAWL
SEEKING LIFE'S UNEVEN FLOW,
YOU ARE WAY ABOVE THE OZONE VEIL.

SING MY SADNESS; TURN ME AROUND,
DRY MY TEARS; SEE ME WRUNG,
GIVE ME FEATHERS; COMFORT ME,
LOVE ME TENDER AND BE MY KING.