Flying Lessons (Part 1)

This is our first flight

And our bodies are shaking

As we stand on the ground

Looking up

Our wings are small

Scraggy looking things

Too small surely

To hold our weight

 

We stretch them out behind us

Warming them in the pale sun

It is not enough to make us warm

Only enough to steal the edge

Off the biting cold

 

Now flap

And we bend our wings

Stretched out

Pulled in

Up

Down

Surely it’s not this easy

 

But we almost lift a little

Off the frozen ground

 

Now climb

And we reach out with clawed hands

Grasping twisted bark

Pulling

Pulling ourselves up

Onto the wide branches

 

Not too high now

We’ll start off low

 

Barely three foot

Off the ground

Breathe deep

And stretch out wings

Ready

Steady

But shaking inside like a leaf

We launch ourselves into midair

Wings fill with air

Holding us

Slowing us

Catching us

We’re not plummeting

Flap

And we climb up to the sky

 

Easier than we thought

Got it first time

 

Flap again

Determined now

And the ground bends away

Sky shifting closer

Though ever distant

Unreachable

 

Flap again

And we’re higher

Six foot off the floor

Wings stretched wide

 

Flap again

And the sky caresses our cheeks

Teasing us

Inviting us

Tempting us

 

Flap again

Ten foot high

Practically soaring

Literally flying

 

Flap again

Flap again

Flap again

 

 

Shadows move slowly far below

The perfect copy of our spread wings

You’re at my side

And our wing tips touch

As we turn

In almost

Perfect synchronisation

 

This is our first flight.

Mastered.