The idiom means that you are free to go where you like when you like and do what you like.
- It's also a symbol of freedom and independence, whether it be political, social, or personal.
- It's also a metaphor for someone who is free-spirited who are true to themselves and live life on their own terms.
- It's also a spiritual concept: to represent the soul that is free from the constraints of the physical world, to transcend the limitations of the body and connect with something higher.
Origin:
- Bible: Psalms 124:7-8 "We've flown free from their fangs, free of their traps, free as a bird. Their grip is broken; we're free as a bird in flight."
- Originally, German word vogelfrei (=outlawed currently) merely meant "as free as a bird, not bound." That is the usage in a German source from 1455. Even Martin Luther (1483–1546) and Huldrych Zwingli (1484–1531) used the term still in its original meaning.
For me, freedom of thinking and speaking are the important things which I didn't have before I came to Canada. Also I believe one has to forgo self (image, status, ego, .. etc) to really feel free and to be truly free.
This morning, I came across to the song of " 生命光芒 "from 原创音乐剧《赵氏孤儿》and felt moved. So I quickly wrote a little "poem" based on the lyrics:
Life is open to everyone
Death is fair to everyone
Light wants to shine over everyone
Darkness likes to swallow up everyone
With muddy waters under the feet,
and injured wings
You fly up high to catch the cloud
for freedom and happiness
You stand on the sharp edge of the blade
gritting teeth but keep singing
You are, We are,
the free birds.
uh-oh, Maowi the cat is coming for the birds, so I'd better stop now. 
Wish you all a happy and relaxed Friday!
