[pullquote align=”left” background=”on”]The news came on the wings of a wind, reluctant to carry its burden. – Maya Angelou[/pullquote]

I remember the very first time I heard her speak – the soulfulness of her voice resonating through me in a manner I had not ever experienced. In one simple breath – my dears, she pulled back my veil.

And, her words…they cast a life altering spell.

“I know why the caged bird sings…”

And, in those few short words – I knew what it meant for a spirit to be free; to dip “his wings in the orange sun rays and dare to claim the sky.”

As she so eloquently stated, everyone has gone to bed one night feeling the pain of loss, of fear…of suffering. And yet, ‘each of us has awakened arisen. Somehow made our ablution, seen other human beings, and said, “Morning, how are you?”

It is the most indelible part of our human soul, and that which joins these oft’ barren threads of humanity. It instills within us our deepest desire, the desire to rise again.

This is the essence of the human will; and this is, the magnificence of the divine.

And, this will – it grows with every newly opened bud, every mottled leaf; it meets us by the meadow’s brook, and when the winds stirs the mighty trees.

My dears, it is the human will that begs our freedom.

[blockquote source=”Maya Angelou”]The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom[/blockquote]

Indeed, Ms. Angelou ~ I, too, know why the caged bird sings. And, through your delicate words this bird has found its wings.

Thank you, from my heart, my dear ~ and thank you, once again. I am so very grateful to have known the gift of your spirit.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
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 fearful trill
of the 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.
~ Maya Angelou

Video: The  Many Inspirations of Dr. Maya Angelou

His Day is Done – A touching tribute to Nelson Mandela.

Still I rise – A gift of spirit.