Arthur Symons - The Caged Bird lyrics

A year ago I asked you for your soul; I took it in my hands, it weighed as light As any bird's wing, it was poised for flight, It was a wandering thing without a goal. I caged it, and I tended it; it throve; Wise ways I taught it; it forgot to fly; It learnt to know its cage, its keeper; I, Its keeper, taught it that the cage was love. And now I take my bird out of the cage, It flutters not a feather, looks at me Sadly, without desire, without surprise; See, I have tamed it, it is still and sage, It has not strength enough for liberty, It does not even hate me with its eyes.