flight

you wanted to jump                you have always
off the roof                              had a fear of flying
 
there is a shadow                    everything you hold
nestled in the basket               in your hands
of your ribcage                       is a stone
 
how shall we now                   it is time to empty
find the words?                       every pocket
 
let’s stop pretending,              place each choice
you and i                                on display
 
let us speak                            small birds
plainly                                    pushed out
 
let us not speak                      onto the branch
at all                                       of need