when i'm up on the ledge

leaning into the wind

thinking about the world

and the wild edges that i've yet to see

about the way my arms are built

i've seen them all glowing and white

with their pieces fitted in tight

looking like something familar

something i've seen before

in the rocks in the canyon

brushing the years away with my two hair brush

and my trembling fingers

watching the beak come pointing out

and the tips and the feet

that grabbed air currents and rode them free

i see them in my dreams

those yellow bones hard as can be

stretched and reaching 

still grabbing the world through me

hungry and wheeling and screaming

its screeching freedom song

it pulls me up on the ledge

me with my pieces all together and bare

looking for something to sweep me away

when i am up on the ledge

leaning into the wind

thinking of all the wild places

in the world i have yet to be

your voice comes up saying

come back down

come back down dear

come back

come back down

so slowly i climb back towards gravity

find my toeholds back to safety

closing my eyes and following your voice

come back down dear

and i have no choice

the song of freedom 

is something i cannot hear

under the cadence of you

come back down dear