A little bird I am,

Shut from the fields of air,

And in my cage I sit and sing

To Him who placed me there;

Well pleased a prisoner to be,

Because, my God, it pleaseth Thee.

Nought have I else to do,

I sing the whole day long;

And He whom most I love to please

Doth listen to my song;

He caught and bound my wandering wing;

But still He bends to hear me sing.

Thou hast an ear to hear

A heart to love and bless;

And though my notes were e'er so rude,

Thou wouldst not hear the less;

Because Thou knowest as they fall,

That love, sweet love, inspires them all.

My cage confines me round;

Abroad I cannot fly;

But though my wing is closely bound,

My heart's at liberty;

For prison walls cannot control

The flight, the freedom of the soul.

O it is good to soar

These bolts and bars above!

To Him whose purpose I adore,

Whose providence I love;

And in Thy mighty will to find

The joy, the freedom of the mind.