Listen To The Birds

She asked why caged birds sing.
I couldn’t tell her,
not for sure.
No mate will arrive this year,
just like last year.
I wonder if they remember,
perhaps they still
live in hope
or sing in contentment
for their good board and lodging.

She asked why humming birds hum,
if it was their song,
a mating song
or song of joy,
of freedom.
I told her it was a work sound
made by their wings
like bees buzzing,
a song of struggle
and survival.

“Do they still sing,” she asked.