The sky is stone, the sky is steel
The sky cannot be broken
The wood is dark, and filled with words
That do not dare be spoken

The eagle flies and beats her wings
Against the azure armor
The nightingale looks up and sings
Beneath the trees that harm her

Within the waves of crystal blue
The eagle drowns, still flying
And under folds of quashing green
A croaking song is dying

But Freedom won’t be chained to earth,
Her wings are steel and stronger
And Joy, though wounded, sings her worth
To all those who would wrong her

The sky will crack, the darkness die,
The earth itself is roaring
Beneath unconquerable will,
Two birds, singing and soaring.

– s. Clark