Songbird

Freedom
is like a golden songbird
that lifts its sweet throat
to the pale blue sky,
singing the sweet lament
of having clipped wings that do not fly.

Open that gilded cage,
watch as the first hesitant wingbeats,
turn into strong, steady
strokes, bearing
it's softly feathered form
like a miniature sun in the sky!

Like a rainbow,
it's glorious song spreads
like a wave of unstoppable tide,
to cover the sweet lush
surface of the earth.

Yet as the minutes pass,
the sun dims in glory,
its wearied form no longer
pierces through the air-
it is swimming against swelling tide-

Falling, eventually,
into the blue-green sea-
creeping arms that seek to embrace,
enclosing that small ball of glory,
bringing death into its watery grave.