Once upon a time a bird in a cage sang for her merchant master.
He took such delight in her song that her feelings began to matter.
He grew so fond of her that he brought her water in a golden dish,
And when he went on a trade journey he asked her for her wish.
"I will go through the forest where you were born, past the birds of your neighbourhood,
What message shall I give them of your present good."
"Tell them I sit locked in a cage, singing my captive song,
And I hope it won't be long,
Before I fly in freedom through the trees,
That will set my heart at ease."
The merchant went on his donkey through the wood,
When he got to where the bird was from he stopped and raised his hood.
"O birds! Greetings to you, one and all, from my bird locked in her cage,
She sends her love and wants me to tell you of her condition and ask your sage,
For a message to take back that will ease her heart and turn for her life a new page."
"She is all alone with bars all around,
She wants to join her beloved and sound,
Her song through the air and be free and unbound."
Suddenly, one bird shrieked and fell from it's branch on to the ground.
The merchant froze on the spot he stood.
He returned to his house unable to speak,

When his bird asked him what message came from their beaks.
He stood before her cage and said "O nothing to speak of!"
"No! No" she cried I must know!!
"I told them your message" he said "and just like that one bird fell dead"

Suddenly, his own bird shrieked and fell on her head.
He let out a cry "O What have I done?"
"Now my moon has gone and so has my sun!"
"My own bird is dead, my life means nothing,
I will have to bury her, a burial fit for a king."

He opened the door of the cage and gently took her,
Careful as not to drop her.
Once, out of the cage, she flew out and away
Onto the roof in the light of the day
"Thank you! Dear Master for delivering my plea,
Those birds sent me a message that instructed me,
On how to win my freedom and fly quite free,
So now I go to my beloved who is waiting for me"
"All I had to do was die,
It's easy once you know how and why,
Good-bye, master no more,
I will fly and soar,
To return no more."

-rumi