I know why the caged bird sings.

It's not because his song
is as vibrant
as his feathers, that he plucks away
each day because he doesn't
feel beautiful.

It's not because of the majesty
that exist in the freedom
of being able to spread his wings
though he knows
he'll never rise to the occasion.

He sings because he believes
that this cage
was made for a king
because he has never tasted
freedom with a side order of skies.

He's never flown past the sun
on a cool morning
or hung with the moon
on a warm night.

He's only ever known
the comfort of a prison
that his thoughts have
become accustomed
to calling home.

He would never venture
beyond the "welcome" mat
because what's beyond the threshold
holds no promise
the way these bars and metal locks do.

He sings because he knows
that no one is listening
so if he makes a mistake
he doesn't have to live with the regret
or embarrassment of knowing that he missed his note.

The caged bird
never believes that he's caged
because behind these walls
he's safe
and he prefers it this way.

I know why the caged bird sings.

What do you do
when you're lost
and no one can
find you...
and you can't find yourself

What do you do
when you're forced
to live day by day
not having anything
that really inspires you
to live
to feel empty and alone
to not feel anything at all

Is it possible to live
without happiness
or passion, love,
for some it is,
but I am not
a part of that some
I am my own being
that no one can ever be

and I appreciate the moon
the stars and the mountains
much more than I do
the people around me
the people in the world
because they are the cause
of my suffering

and I just wish that
I could drop it all
the pretenses and illusions
I wish I could have
the courage to find my own cause
to free myself with my own strength
to rip off the chains
and lift the bricks off my body
to walk with a renewed strength
to be a living free soul

and that will be my
eternal regret
my cowardice, my fear
....
that will fade away
my lifetime and existence