A few feet above the earth, sailing,
Some ahead of me, others trailing
Swooping, diving, and swaying
The wind and I, playing
Racing against the first ray 
Of the morning sun
Our first battle of each day
A battle I’ve never won!
Nestling into the cooling shade
Of the elderly jamun tree
Partaking of its delicious bounty
That’s spread out inside for me
Swooping over startled heads
Watching their eyes fill with dread!
Then diving back headlong
Into the sky, where I belong.

I try each day, to fly a little higher
Push a little, be a better flier
And perhaps one day, break away from the flock
To fly out alone, to that far-away rock
That beckons me, like it has beckoned others before
Those whose tales were my childhood’s folklore
To risk all I have, all I know, is perhaps insanity
But it will be the right place, I know, for me to be
One day, I know, in thought, action, and word
I will be what I am – a free, free bird.






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