Caged Bird
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 sun 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.
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Adam borrowed our car on Thursday morning to go put a down payment on what hopefully soon will be his car, so I worked until he got home, after which I went to meet Karen and Angela for lunch at Tara Thai. I hadn't seen them since before the holidays! Then Adam and I went to see Lady Bird since we had both read that it was great, though I have to admit that the screenplay, which is winning the bulk of the awards, seems a bit...well, full of coming-of-age cliches and elements more likely to ring the bells of adult critics than viewers the age of the protagonist. The acting pulls up the writing, but I know I'm old because I thought the mother was the best character.
Paul made jambalaya for dinner, which Maddy was here to eat with us. Then we were going to all watch a movie together, but Adam's jetlag caught up with him and he went to bed early. So instead we watched some 11th season Bones, which I am still liking even though everyone I know who was a fan was pretty burned out before this point. Now Adam is working on a presentation on deep learning for Paul's team at work. Here are some photos from December of the US Botanical Garden's annual display of models of the major DC monuments made out of natural materials and plant fibers, including the new African museum and accompanying holiday poinsettias:
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