The Trees, The Sky, & Me

We were both birds

On solid ground,

With dreams of the vast sky above us,

But I longed to do more than dream,

I wanted to fly,

To seize the sun and stars and all that we could,

But you were afraid--

Even if you never admitted it out loud--

So I stayed on the ground with you,

Built a nest on uncomfortable dirt and rock instead of protective branch,

And comforted myself that all you needed

Was love and understanding.

So when years later the time came

When I finally outstretched my wings

And asked you to come with me,

To taste the freedom of the sky for ourselves,

You told me yes

And it was the sweetest song I had ever heard,

Fruit of our love and patience.

But when the time came to ride the current

And be swept upwards and leave the dirt behind,

You drew your wings close to your body,

and told me that you had realized that the ground

Was all you ever knew

So why would you leave.

And I almost let that loss of you

Clip my own wings.

But blinded with tears,

I still flew.

I flew.

And I flew on without you

And left you behind

Amongst the twigs and the dirt and the bugs

That you loved more than the trees, the sky, and me.