Free Bird

 

“. . . A light broke in upon my brain,— 

It was the carol of a bird; 

It ceased, and then it came again, 

The sweetest song ear ever heard, 

And mine was thankful till my eyes 

Ran over with the glad surprise, 

And they that moment could not see 

I was the mate of misery. 

But then by dull degrees came back 

My senses to their wonted track; 

I saw the dungeon walls and floor 

Close slowly round me as before, 

I saw the glimmer of the sun 

Creeping as it before had done, 

But through the crevice where it came 

That bird was perched, as fond and tame, 

And tamer than upon the tree; 

A lovely bird, with azure wings, 

And song that said a thousand things, 

And seemed to say them all for me! 

I never saw its like before, 

I ne’er shall see its likeness more; 

It seemed like me to want a mate, 

But was not half so desolate, 

And it was come to love me when 

None lived to love me so again, 

And cheering from my dungeon’s brink, 

Had brought me back to feel and think. 

I know not if it late were free, 

Or broke its cage to perch on mine. . . “

 Lord Byron (1788–1824) “The Prisoner of Chillon”.   Picture by Grok