A free bird leaps on the back
Of the wind and floats downstream 
'Till the current ends and dips his wing 
In the orange suns rays
And dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks down her narrow cage
Can seldom see through her bars of rage
Her wings are clipped and her feet are tied
So she opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
Of things unknown but longed for still
And her 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 she names the sky her own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
Her shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
Her wings are clipped and her feet are tied
So she opens to sing.

The caged bird sings with
A fearful trill of things unknown
But longed for still and her
Tune is heard on the distant hill
For the caged bird sings of freedom.

-Maya Angelou, 1969