Flight

written for a friend leaving an abusive relationship

Child, forgive yourself.

We are no less than angels,

and the world is full of men

who cannot tolerate it

when a woman, flies to places

higher than where he is.

 

They live in caves,

or in swamps of envy

they bring scissors, they tell you

“Here, I’m going to trim

your wings; it’s for your protection;

I do this because I am a man

and it is my job,

to protect you."

 

Child, forgive yourself. We fall

because it is lonely living

only in the sky, watching the world

pass, without being allowed

to participate. We are angels,

but we are women, too;

we need to be seen, held.

These sensual bodies

were not fashioned to be admired

without also being touched;

 

These vast minds

were designed to be heard

and nourished. And if you

come to this world bearing wings,

you were made to live

in all of the elements. Swamps

are places necessary to visit,

but don’t build your home there.

You need a lover, a partner-

not a renovation contract.

 

Your restorative energy is for

building your dream home

in the mountains, for the broken

things of the world,

and for your own soul. God knows

too well the pain of women,

and the 20,000 times our light

is shut off when you try to live

in an extraordinary way.

 

They call us fragile for being

vulnerable; they bully us for

our need to be part of things.

Child, forgive yourself.

You needed a space where you

could be yourself; and he needed

you to be someone else.

They wear masks made of wax,

which is why they are afraid

of your warmth, the same

which at first, attracted them.

 

Love always grows from seeds

of vulnerability, and they do not

sprout in caves or swamps.

Child, forgive yourself.

You came with the wisdom of love

to a world that attends the ego.

You tried to teach the wrong student,

nothing more. The sky can be

a lonely place, but it is from there

that you can scan the horizons

for others who are not afraid

of the sun. Of your wings. Of you.

 

You do not yet know how fortunate

you are, in your ability, to fly.

Author's Note

picture is mine, volcano in sunset

Reviews

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Very well said... your words rind as powerful as they are true... except one thing... those that abuse women are not men... real men know how to appreciate a woman for all she is and not intimidated by their strength.