Why the Caged Bird Sings

       A dear friend told me about one of her favorite poets: 

           Maya Angelou.  She read me this poem and I can not

      get it out of my head.  I am sharing it with you in hopes

           that you also will "feel" the poetry of this prose.

I know why the caged bird sings

 Poem by Maya Angelou

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 his narrow cage
Can seldom see through his bars of rage
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.

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

But a caged BIRD stands on the grave of dreams
His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.

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

Maya Angelou

A Silly Old Poem!

One Winter Night in August

 by X J Kennedy

One winter night in August
While the larks sang in their eggs,
A barefoot boy with shoes on
Stood kneeling on his legs.

At ninety miles an hour
He slowly strolled to town
And parked atop a tower
That had just fallen down.

He asked a kind old policeman
Who bit small boys in half,
“Officer, have you seen my pet
Invisible giraffe?”

“Why, sure, I haven’t seen him.”
The cop smiled with a sneer.
“He was just here tomorrow
And he rushed right back next year.

“Now, boy, come be arrested
For stealing frozen steam!”
And whipping out his pistol,
He carved some hot ice cream.

Just then a pack of dogfish
Who roam the desert snows
Arrived by unicycle
And shook the policeman’s toes.

They cried, “Congratulations,
Old dear! Surprise, surprise!
You raced the worst, so you came in first
And you didn’t win any prize!”

Then turning to the boyfoot bear,
They yelled, “He’s overheard
What we didn’t say to the officer!
(We never said one word!)

“Too bad, boy, we must turn you
Into a loathsome toad!
Now shut your ears and listen,
We’re going to explode!”

But then, with an awful holler
That didn’t make a peep,
Our ancient boy (age seven)
Woke up and went to sleep.

Classic Chicago - You're the Inspiration ~ Love It!

I just heard my husband playing this song while sitting in our living room.  I am working on homework in a room nearby and had to stop what i was doing to sing along with the music.  Here is a copy of the lyrics.  If you love the classic Chicago like I do - sing along . . . then leave me a comment below letting me know you did.  Or let me know what other classic love songs or poems you might like to have me post!

Lyrics

You know our love was meant to be
The kind of love to last forever
And I want you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
You should know
Everywhere I go
Always on my mind
In my heart
In my soul
Baby

 

You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the inspiration
Want to have you near me
I want to have you hear me saying
"No one needs you more than I need you"

 

And I know (And I know)
Yes I know that it's plain to see
So in love when we're together
Now I know (Now I know)
That I need you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
You should know (Yes, you need to know )
Everywhere I go
You're always on my mind
You're in my heart
In my soul

 

You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the inspiration
Want to have you near me
I want to have you hear me saying
"No one needs you more than I need you"
(No one needs you more than I)
Want to have you near me
I want to have you hear me saying
"No one needs you more than I need you"
(No one needs you more)
You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the inspiration

 

When you love somebody
'Til the end of time
When you love somebody
Always on my mind / No one needs you more than I
When you love somebody
'Til the end of time
When you love somebody
Always on my mind / No on needs you more than I

 

 

Songwriters: David Foster / Peter Cetera

You’re the Inspiration lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group

An Old Favorite ~ Miniver Cheevy

Miniver Cheevy

By Edwin Arlington Robinson

 

 

Miniver Cheevy, child of scorn,

   Grew lean while he assailed the seasons;

He wept that he was ever born,

   And he had reasons.

Miniver loved the days of old

   When swords were bright and steeds were prancing;

The vision of a warrior bold

   Would set him dancing.

Miniver sighed for what was not,

   And dreamed, and rested from his labors;

He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot,

   And Priam’s neighbors.

Miniver mourned the ripe renown

   That made so many a name so fragrant;

He mourned Romance, now on the town,

   And Art, a vagrant.

Miniver loved the Medici,

   Albeit he had never seen one;

He would have sinned incessantly

   Could he have been one.

Miniver cursed the commonplace

   And eyed a khaki suit with loathing;

He missed the mediæval grace

   Of iron clothing.

Miniver scorned the gold he sought,

   But sore annoyed was he without it;

Miniver thought, and thought, and thought,

   And thought about it.

Miniver Cheevy, born too late,

   Scratched his head and kept on thinking;

Miniver coughed, and called it fate,

   And kept on drinking.

And the Journey Begins . . .

I have been a review blogger on http://www.momloves2read.com for almost 7 years.  I have not had the time to dedicate to reviews that I would love so I started this blog just to post my occasionally eratic thoughts.  As a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, Nurse, blogger, aspiring writer, student and more . . . my mind does not stop.

I have found myself writing poetry, singing new songs and creating ideas while working that later get forgotten.  I think to myself “that was so good, I should have written it down!”
Here is my place for those thoughts, poetry and more to be finally written down.
No deadlines, no pressure.  

At my time, my pace!

*S.M*