I know why the caged bird sings, <br />Though beautiful it sounds to others, <br />Dreadful it sounds to me. <br /> <br />Listen, listen as he cries out, <br />Singing in his despair; <br />Listen to his moans, <br />Wishing to be set free. <br /> <br />A prisoner, hoping to be liberated, <br />He cries out for his freedom, <br />Wondering why he's in captivity. <br />Listen closely, my friend, <br />And you will hear his silent tears. <br /> <br />Oh, little bird, don't torment yourself so; <br />I know how you feel, <br />For I, too, am a captive, a convict, <br />A prisoner of my past, <br />Incarcerated for crimes I didn't commit. <br /> <br />I am a slave to my master, <br />My own abuser and his abuse, <br />And I suffer so, reliving them every day, <br />Suffering from the harsh reality <br />That bonds me in chains <br />And weighs me down slowly, <br />Never to get up, <br />Never to be free. <br /> <br />Oh, little bird, I know your pain; <br />I know your suffering; <br />I can hear your awful cries. <br />I'm sorry what they did to you, <br />But I promise you things <br />Will get better for you. <br /> <br />Even though we both suffer, <br />We both suffer together, <br />But in the end, <br />Our chains will break, <br />And we shall soon be set free.<br /><br />Justin Reamer<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/empathy-28/
