Tag Archives: self-reflection

When it comes right down to it,
I wish I was a bird.

I want to fly, wind in my face to the next
food source. I want to find shiny trinkets
for my nest, or colored string or someone’s
long blonde hair that a strong April breeze
pulled free from a ponytail.

I want to perch on a telephone wire,
cocking my head to and fro,
watching the humans blunder about
and arguing over what to have for supper.

I want a bird bath in a pretty garden
and some old lady that will faithfully
keep the squirrels from getting to the seed
she had her son pick up from Walmart.

I want to fly south for the winter
with all my kin and not question
if there is enough money in the bank
and enough vacation time for such a long trip.

My therapist once told me that wanting to run away
is a polite way of saying you wanted
to commit suicide. That by saying I wanted to run away,
I had made up my mind that everyone around me
was better off without me.

I believed her for a time,
but now I don’t think she was right.
I think wanting to run away is a sign you need
to take time for yourself, recalibrate your space
and mind so that you can breathe.

I wonder what she would say about wishing
to be a bird.