the silence was deafening
i could hear our minds scream

I would give you the oceans
if they were mine to give
but they belong to the shore
and the shore
would be certain to miss them
very much.

I would give you all of the stars
if they were mine to give
but they belong in the night's sky
and darkness would fall
without it's glittering beans
and that would never do.

I would give you the moon
if it were mine to give
but it belongs to the tide
and, to be honest
i'm not quite sure
where you would put something
so monstrously big
in your little house.

You know..
i think it might be better
if i just give you
all of my love
from now until forever
and that would fit in your heart
just perfectly.

One cup of time
A half cup of compromise
Three cups of patience
A dash of understanding
Two teaspoons of forgiveness
A pinch of tenderness
Add no regrets
Bake until its love
Serve hot

Why does this caged bird sing?
Because I'm Black,
In a country that says that doesn't mean a thing.
Because racism has taken many setbacks
And the Klu Klux **** has applications
and we know where the police get their reps at.
So why can't we take a step back?
My life means less than yours,
But I find myself pursuing better things
So my daughter never wants for more.
Locked in cages,
I'm a Starling
So I yearn to fly.
See my brothers in them four walls
Like that's where they were born to die.
If our privilege was like yours
We would never hear those expensive collect calls.
So we use our knowledge for wrong,
You'd never appreciate that a felon could write this poem.
Trapped in environments that don't care for us,
We try to branch out
They take a few shots
And you no longer hear from us.

So why does the caged bird really sing?
Probably because I know where my opportunities really lie.
In a ball, a mic or some reality show.
I'm not against those options
But I live in reality though.
There's no hope for the rehabilitated,
You have to carve your own road,
And nowhere is that clearly stated.
And to add insult to injury,
I'm Muslim and if you knew
You wouldn't see a friend in me.

So why does the caged bird sing?
If you clearly can't hear us,
Why put on a badge in a neighborhood,
If you fear us?
You prop yourself on a pedestal
And look down.
You brought us here, left us in the field, in shacks
And now we're in the Slums of every town.
You diminished our importance
And showed us anything that wasn't white was wrong,
For all I know you helped me write this poem.

So why does this caged bird sing?*
So my words can vibrate my shackle loose,
So my ideals can blow open the door
And my melody can inspire every bird too.