| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22. | | | | The Birdcage | | By Arthur Davison Ficke |
| | | O TRAGIC bird! whose bleeding feet, | |
| Whose maddened wings dizzily beat | |
| Against your cage in agony— | |
| Soon, soon to win your liberty! | |
| Still you believe that happiness | 5 |
| Dwells just beyond the bars you press | |
| That if a sudden miracle | |
| Gave your desire, life would be well. | |
| The old, old dream! The old, old lure! | |
| The devil plays; his stakes are sure. | 10 |
| With happiness he baits his gin | |
| That still mankind shall perish in. | |
| And still we trust our hearts could be | |
| Blessed by the distant liberty, | |
| Blind to the newer agony! | 15 |
| The earth will be a frozen coal | |
| Before man knows his traitor soul. | | | | |
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