Caged

A man sat on a park bench
With a parrot in a cage.
I tried to tell if he was nuts,
But couldn’t really gauge.

I wondered if that bird enjoyed
The different air outside
Or if it made him more aware
Of what he’s been denied.

The pigeons seemed to stay away;
I guess somehow they knew
That parrot wasn’t joining them
When they got up and flew.

Each passerby stared at the cage
Amused, confused or rapt;
But I felt sorry for that bird
So close to freedom, trapped.