She's Like - A Caged Bird

 Unadulterated expression: 

Moments ago,

your voice emitted through my speakers.

  While listening to your words, a dull ache entranced my being.  

Countless memories blurred my vision, as they swirled in my mind. 

Caged Bird

Mmm, mmm

Right now I feel like a bird

Caged Without a key

Everyone comes to stare at me

With so much joy and revelry

They don’t know how I feel inside

Through my smile I cry

They don’t know what they’re doin’ to me

Keepin’ me from flyin’

That’s why I say that I know

Why the caged bird sings

Only joy comes from song

She’s so rare and beautiful to others

Why not just set her free?

So she can fly, fly, fly

Spreading’ her wings and her song

Let her fly, fly, fly

For the whole world to see

Mmm, mmm

Hey, hey

Mmm, mmm

She’s like a caged bird

Fly, Fly

Ohh, just let her fly

Just let her fly, just let her fly

Spread wings, Spread beauty

   ~*Alicia Keys

 I wrote a poem entitled "To Be A Bird"  when I was eighteen years old.

  

To Be A Bird

I’ve always wanted
To be a bird
So I could be free
Rise above the world
Nothing can touch me

Soaring over all
As I rise

Fleeing the world
And its lies
Feeling the wind
In the beautiful sky

As I rise
Fleeing temptation
And despair
Feeling the clouds
As the world disappears

Everything
Will be left behind
No longer
Will I have reason to cry

As I fly

I am free

 

Rising above all
Untouched by all worries
I’m unable to fall

© LaToya S. C.

Author's Comments

I was deeply saddened when I wrote this poem. I was listening to R. Kelly's I believe I can fly on the radio. I lost my ability to run, when I was 15 years old. Running was my freedom. Every time I ran, I felt as if I was flying. Hearing that song and the emotions I felt within produced this poem... This poem is also the reason why I fell in love with Alicia Keys. When I first heard her song "Caged Bird" I started to cry, If my poem was a song it would be "Caged Bird".... I feel the words of that song as if I wrote it myself. As if she went into the very essence of my being, and expressed everything I wish people could understand.

 I wrote "To Be A Bird" 12 years ago, and first heard "Caged Bird" by Alicia Keys, 9 years ago.

  

At times I feel as if, various components in my life have evaporated.  Leaving no evidence it was real, except in my mind.

I’m left with memories that cannot be touched, yet are felt.  Moments I can no longer embrace, yet wraps around me in understanding.

It’s amazing how a certain word, phrase, season, fragrance or song can transform everything around me. Reverting the hands of time; resurfacing my past.

Within the recesses of my mind; a seemingly forgotten existence, is sheltered..

 **********

Expressing my thoughts on paper

Unforeseen

Seeds of my evolution

Planted every day I wake up and breathe

I look in the mirror at a reflection

No one else sees…..

 The Iris of my pupil deems:

 To not know the answer to something makes me vulnerable to myself. 

 Lost in a whirlwind of temporary emotions, that cannot comfort me or talk back.

Simply felt

I yearn for what no other human can give me

I have what no one can take away from me...

As I yearn, searching from my freedom

Reading, writing, learning, observing, forever thinking…..

 Gives me wings.

Writing is my clarity.... giving me flight as I soar within. 

These words 

Are one of my many feathers. 

I