Birdcage

My home is the sky where I fly freely.

Where Mother pulls the aba off my back

and Father leads the way while we soar.

Where Sister’s wings are soft and vibrant

and we chitter and chatter and twitter

until Mother and Father wish us flown away

to chitter and chatter and twitter elsewhere.

On the best of days, father soars low and

we all ride his slipstream, easily and aimlessly

as we twirl and dance and soar and I,

I feel free for the first time in a long time.

Familiar arms hold me safe while I sleep

and when morning comes my wings spread wide,

and gravity cannot touch me here.