I tell you, I am no broken thing:

though I may cut, and I may sting

like shards of glass, fallen low.–

I am no broken thing, you know.

I have teeth and I have claws

that cut like scalpels and like saws

I am wild and I am free,

I am not broken, for you see

A dog or horse may be tamed

but lions can only be restrained:

Soon I’ll be running free,

the caged bird sings, but not

for me.