The Caged Bird.. Poem by Sharon Smith

I know why the caged bird sings
Why its breast is bare..and its shrills just ring;
Through the heart of one..and so too flies..
to the dawn's sweet rays..to the pristine skies

Against its nature, these bars surround
With same position and lackful ground
Against thy nature, Oh instincts high..
To just reach up..with wings to fly

Yet mourns: enclosed, with shrill of despair
and listens intently to familiar air
Through cage it hears so sweet a song
and grieves yet but to sing along..

with those so free and upon their lure
To just take flight..its only cure
To glide up high and oh so far..
restrained now only..from this iron bar

It sings of joy so far above
Entrapped within these bars..a dove
If bars removed could it still fly..
above the earth into the sky?

Or has it been bound too long..I fear
To leave this place and fly from here
Will nature embrace its little one
and it be gone..Oh instinct won! !