Invisible Cage

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sing
— Maya Angelou

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
an 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.


Instead of being caged by society or rules, we are often being caged by our own perception. Could we break free from our fear of this invisible cage?

Let me close this beautiful poem with my favorite line in my favorite movie.

I fear neither death nor pain. A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire.

Eowyn, Lord of the Rings

Pain and Sadness

아픔 과 슬픔도 길이된다
— 이철환

오래 시간의 아픔을 통해 나는 알게 되었다
아픔도 갈이 될수있다는 것을

바람 불지않는 인생은 없다
바람이 불어야 나무는 쓰러지지 않으려고
더 깊이 뿌리를 내린다

바람이 나무를 흔드는 이유다
바람이 우리들을 흔드는 이유다

아픔도 길이 된다
슬픔도 길이 된다


Pain and Sadness can also Become a Path
— Lee Chul Hwan

I realized this after a long time of pain
That pain can also become a path

There is no life where no wind blows
The wind must blows so that the tree will not fall over
Take deeper roots inside the earth

That’s why the wind shakes the tree
That’s why the wind shakes all of us

Pain can also become a path
Sadness can also become a path

PS: I first encountered this poem from Korean Drama with title “A Poem A Day”. Pain and sadness that we feel now may become a way for us to understand, become matured and wise.