The Bird That Forgot To Fly

'Cross the skies of the promised land, the canary soared higher,
Sunshine cleansed her golden wings, that sang of dreams, of desire,
To the grey world, 'neath the grey towers, that'd never dare sing,
May the powers above be damned forever; for how they chained her in!

Wise-old Tzar leered and grinned, as she struggled against iron bars,
Shutters drawn; while the walls repulsed frantic chirps from afar.
"Fret not little one, ", he hissed, " 'Tis here you live out your days..."
"Sing! Entertain! Like all birds are meant to, and don't you dare disobey!"

And so she sang as she was asked, with dreary soulless finesse,
Arbitrary notes; amid serpentine whispers that roamed the stygian depths.
While her weary wings would forget the warmth, of sultry sun soaked skies,
Until news arrived of Tzar's defeat, one day amidst battleweary cries!

Lest skeptics scowl, the usurper roared, "Lords! Let the poor bird fly!",
"Reformer! Liberator!", lauded the court; they threw the cage open to the sky!
Unsure, insecure, she flapped once-twice, then came the final free fall,
As the grey mists below sheathed her bloodied feathers, much to the bemusement of all...