Flight of a Friend By Derrick

Flight of a Friend
By Derrick "Jack" Corley

Baby bird,
fallen from the nest
your cry brought me to you
Unfeathered, you were
a naked little thing
destined never to fly
and probably to die
until your luck changed
when I came along,

Little bird,
under my wing you thrived
fed and cared for you grew
beautifully feathered
Wings you didn’t know
how to use
till I threw you in the air
again and again and again-
In showing you what you were
you learned to fly,

Free bird,
wings unclipped, never caged
always free
you were
friend not pet
landing upon my shoulder
when I whistled or
you sought my company
When memory brought recognition
and nurture overrode nature,

my bird till,
abandoning friendship
you flew away for good
unwilling or unable to be
anything but a bird.