I woke to singing birds and rain

I woke to singing birds and rain,
the hum of the army of air conditioners
outside my hotel window—
I read one news article before my coffee and eggs
about how songbirds in Singapore
are endangered because they are being trapped
and sold as pets
thousands and thousands of them
to people who live in cages
(it did not say the part about people in cages)
I took a walk in the rain
in a place where sidewalks end
and begin at random
watched low gray clouds swaddle the mountains
I listened to songbirds singing in the Rhododendrons
outside Sear’s garden department at the Valley View mall
and thought about freedom