William Cowper,
On a Goldfinch Starved to Death in his Cage
“ For, caught and cag'd, and starv'd to death, In dying sighs my little breath Soon pass'd the wiry grate. Thanks, gentle swain, for all my woes, And thanks for this effectual close And cure of ev'ry ill! More cruelty could none express; And I, if you had shown me less, Had been your pris'ner still. This work was published before January 1, 1928, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. ”
