To succeed is to be snatched up by a mighty gust of wind To sprout sentient wings with an agenda all their own To be catapulted from the concrete to the abstract And find yourself a bit braver than you were before your journey

To succeed is to take flight And find the heaven’s worth it

Curls of torrent winds lift her feathered wings,

                           Up
                      Up
                 Up

She goes.

Spinning like that on threads of air, She is a beast, Commanding the clouds beneath her grace,

She was never really meant to fly, Her bones too paper thin and fragile to bear the harshness of the elements,

But for a moment, she becomes as light as the clouds themselves, As weightless as air and smoke,

Though there might be a day she will fail to fly, A day she might plummet to the earth, For now she is boundless, And it seems, That day has yet to come.

We took Leon to the hills. So young we watched him. His mother and I, Proud as ever.

Leon looked at growing wings. So beautiful in sunrise glow. Slowly he ran, bounced, flapping, Bounced flapping some more.

Over hours, days, weeks, months. Trying so hard. But not quite making it. We called to him, in support as a parent, And carer friend would do.

Each time wings grew, bigger stronger. His cry boomed louder, deeper. Flames blew bright across Darkening winter sky.

Next afternoon, I watched as Mother leapt in to the sky. She called out to Leon. Softly, gently, encouraging.

Leon ran, flapping his wings Hard & true. He lifted from the ground. His voice boomed out strong!

I cried out in pride. “You go Leon. And you Mother!” I watched as the two flew In to the distance.

Left Nova Scotia again this week The Great Lakes look like the eye of the earth As my neighbors and I glide over them

The briskness of the high skies Snakes through my feathers Like small threads of ice

We stop for food and poops in Illinois Ponds and schools have lots of snacks The Yanks look at us like we run the place

The red and orange mosaics of the Midwest fall leaves Fade below us into green pastures

We have a timeshare in the Florida Keys Hope the flamingos didn’t leave the place a mess again

They are seriously such party animals.

Floating on the wind Eyes watching, hunting for prey Survival in flight Tessa🦋

Spread tawny feathers Leap into freedom of air Soar as you were made!

It has been a long day, I played and ate, Now it is time to sleep!

Where am I? What is that? That’s one strange looking dog!

What is this thing? Why does it keep moving? The dog is speaking but I cannot understand!

Oh, it brought some food, It seemed friendly enough, I guess I’ll just eat!

Seriously, where am I? How did I get here, That must be a small dog.

It’s paws does not look like mine, It looks friendly, I will just smile and wag my tail!

The other dogs are leaving, This is a strange place, How do they know my name?

Look at all the trees, Hey, that dog looks like me, I guess, I am home now!

Slight tilt of the head at equal ratio of pointed tail feathers The crouch and instant stillness Breath is held Letting go of all constants And giving into the unknown Grounded no more, tethers are broken All power is relinquished to the wind This is done on the daily However the risk is no less lessened The next target is eyed Laser focused on the destination The body tenses in preparation Then all is rendered motionless Inches from the goal Barred from full potential Trapped by constraints
Flight only capable within the confines

Cutting through the clouds I soar. The power of my kind, the destruction they saw. Breathing heavy but controlled, my leash is sore. It is not the fear of humans that spurs the war. But humans are petty and greedy, I abhor. I burn their stores and they’ll run out of their doors. Like rodents, they scatter along the floor. My hunger for the death is like meat to a carnivore. Beautiful patterns of smoke and debris, I’m sure.

Flap your wings Flap your wings

On this Summer night

The Sun is setting The air grows chill

The insects begin Their battles

On this Summer night

But you, oh valiant one Flap your wings Search for prey

Swoop!! Success.

One less mosquito One less bite

Swoop! Again! Flap, flap

I watch, in awe In respect.

Swoop! Okay, that was a little close

Wings dark Against a fading light

On this Summer night