T. Thomas Fortune, "The Bird Has Vanished" (1905)
The bird has vanished from its cage—
Has left its prison house to me!
It will not fill its song with rage
Again—for it is free!
Will it forget, can it forget,
The love, the tender care, I gave,
Or feel one throb of sad regret
That 'tis no more my slave?
Go, nameless one, and find a mate
Which will be more than friend to thee,
But, in thy freedom, do not hate,
Do not think ill of me!