i know why

she tells me she's been craving

maya and singing i know why

the caged bird sings

in a pretty cadence

like a flute in a song

and out all night

dancing the

samba

shoulders shaking

and sweating

and breathing

and a quarter

turn on the ball

of her pretty foot

lemonade on the empty half

of the room where i sleep

tonight, rubbing my

eyes, wishing i didn't

have to wake up

so early

wishing

i wasn't such a burden

on the people who

host me and

thinking,

thanks

goin' north, to my

childhood home

with three hopeful

thoughts and

singing

i know why the

caged bird sings