Caged Bird, Caged Heart

You cage your heart,
Trap it behind iron bars of defense.
You cage your heart,
Because it was a fragile, fluttering thing
It leapt at all those who took an interest
Even the cat, who waited to strike
The cat who toyed with your heart,
Bashed it, bruised it,
Shattered it, then left.
You cage your heart,
To protect the broken bird,
From being torn apart again.
The cat made you believe
That love was a dangerous and painful game
So you cage your heart,
When it yearns for the cloudless skies,
To come.
 
But then, He comes.
Your heart stirs, the bird sings.
The prison is slowly melted,
By words of love and encouragement.
Your hand is reluctant,
Your head screams logic,
But your heart battles for control.
It didn’t learn from the cat’s claws.
It didn’t learn from its thin white scars.
Its been caged too long,
Its wings restless.
So with a shaky hand, you unlock the cage.
The bird looks at Him,
Unsure, but hopeful
It stretches its broken wings,
Daring to fly,
When it should have learned
That birds with broken wings,
Only fall.
 
But then your broken heart.
Learns that this kind of love,
The forever kind of love,
Heals broken birds,
This kind of love,
Helps broken wings mend
And broken birds soar.