Caged Bird sings

 Friday January 29

I turned on Radio 2 this afternoon in time to hear the diesel engine song from Starlight Express. Was it my now departed nephew, Nick, on lead guitar? If it was a recording from the show, yes it was. He spent a number of years playing lead guitar in Andrew Lloyd Weber's West End shows. Those were the days when after the show finished, he would change his black jeans and Tshirt for dinner jacket and bow tie, before doing the midnight cabaret at the Savoy.

Not an expected career for someone with a polymer science degree. 

I spent a little time watching the garden yesterday . The two Brambling did not re-appear for my camera. Nor did I catch the Grey Wagtail (year tick) visiting our pond. 

A Jackdaw landed on the weather vane, which was already showing evidence that it's a popular look-out perch.

 

We have been out birding to-day, the first time since the early two days of the month. It had become necessary for our mental wellbeing. Despite enjoying virtual birding, watching some very active bird table webcams in Pennsylvania and Alabama, identifying the birds as they appeared, nothing compares with the actual. 

Memory jogged by listening to the US's young poet laureate reading her impressive poem at Joe Biden's inauguration, I researched Maya Angelou's poem.

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.

 I'll write up to-day's outing to-morrow.