Young Bird

When I was younger

A little, tiny thing
I was convinced I could fly

If I tried hard enough
Stretched my neck far enough
Tilted my jaw high enough
I would touch the sky
Or at least nearly enough
I was a young bird.

Weighed down by human obligations
I was overwhelmed by commands
To be normal enough
Ladylike enough
Civilized enough
Good enough
I was a young bird
That never learned to fly.