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~ a poem about how I felt being trapped in a toxic relationship. I felt like I was unable to be; unable to breathe ~
** This poem has been published in a book***

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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

she is trapped and monitored and set free by someone else’s hand

she can’t move unless someone gives her a command

she is reprimanded but not told where to stand

she is admired but controlled when she gets out of hand

she is told what to sing and praised when done right

she is monitored all day, and pestered throughout the night

Her songs are polite

she holds back on her bite

her owner tells her that everything will be alright

Some times she is left alone with her thoughts and her memory

Happy times of love and cuddles, are stored in her treasury

But other feelings come around, they are complimentary

to the feelings of anxiety broadcasted like an accessory 

her most trusted person is referred to as her master

drilling into her words, like sermons from a pastor

it feels like a disaster

when it’s the freedom she is after

she does all of this for her taskmaster

she is caged and sings the songs of the discouraged 

she searches and searches for life, she forages

for the chance to flourish

for an ounce of courage

so she isn’t treated like her masters compact storage

As cliche as it is, I know why the caged bird sings

I too am this bird, like angels, we both have wings