English poem
To A Caged Bird
by Douglas Malloch (1877–1938)
Voice of the forest, tongue by which it speaks The throbbing gladness of its vernal time, No more, no more, your rising pinion seeks The heights sublime.
Voice of the forest, once your gay wings beat Against the mountain diademed with stars; Now do men bid you sing a song as sweet To prison bars.
Only a singer that they, passing, heard And then desired, like book and pipe and bowl-- Knowing nor caring when they cage a bird They cage a soul.