Itty bitty flightless fleck

The little bird with ribboned wings 
didn't know she couldn't fly.
the cage she knew had shadowed her 
so she never thought to try.

no one ever told her
someone had clipped her wings.
shed lived safe in familiarity
and sat in cage to sing.

the bars were comfort to a world
she never knew she missed.
so when released she tried the things
that others would insist.


and funny thing for little birds
who grew up behind walls.
when never taught and never learned,
the flightless find they fall. 

And no more does caged bird sing
no more to tweet or peck.
All the while she will remain
a flighless feathered fleck