The Caged Lament

The Caged Lament

Amidst the gardens wild and free,

Where joy adorned each face with glee,

I wandered through the paths so bright,

In nature's hold, bathed in light.

The creatures danced in silent grace,

Yet sorrow veiled each captive face.

Their homes but bars, their skies but walls,

Their cries were hushed, no echo calls.

They spoke in whispers, soft yet stern,

"Our freedom lost, will none return?

We gift you joy, yet live in pain,

Bound in chains, a life in vain."

"Your eyes delight, yet ours run dry,

We bear our fate, yet know not why.

No gentle streams, no forest air,

Just empty hands and hollow stares."

"You come, you gaze, you laugh, you cheer,

Yet steal the wild we hold so dear.

A golden cage is still a chain,

No king would rule in such disdain."

How cruel are we, who claim the earth,

Yet steal its wonders from their birth?

No throne is ours, we wield no rod—

To bind the free—is man a god?