TO-DAY within a grog-shop near I saw a newly captured linnet, Who beat against his cage in fear, And fell exhausted every minute; And when I asked the fellow there If he to sell the bird were willing, He told me with a careless air That I could have it for a shilling. And so I bought it, cage and all (Although I went without my dinner), And where some trees were fairly tall And houses shrank and smoke was thinner, The tiny door I open threw, As down upon the grass I sank me: Poor little chap! How quick he flew . . . He didn't even wait to thank me. Life's like a cage; we beat the bars, We bruise our breasts, we struggle vainly; Up to the glory of the stars We strain with flutterings ungainly. And then -- God opens wide the door; Our wondrous wings are arched for flying; We poise, we part, we sing, we soar . . . Light, freedom, love. . . . Fools call it -- Dying. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...RETURN OF SPRING by PIERRE DE RONSARD SPRING PLOWING by RUTH E. BILLEY THE FOREST POOL by MATHILDE BLIND OLD JOHN by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN THE CROWDED STREET by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE WANDERER: 1. IN ITALY: WARNINGS by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON |