She said, “I love the way you live
I love the way you fly in your blue skies
You’re so free and full of life”
I thought, “And yet there is no love
Flying high waits for no one
Freedom has no partner”
She asked, “Do you have a mate?”
I said, “No and I’m not looking for one”
She wondered, “What kind of life is this?
She said, “We’re not made to be alone”
I thought, “What does she expect of me?”
I said, “Maybe but then why am I happy?”
She said, “You only think you are”
I said, “Maybe happy is about not being unhappy”
She asked, “Who hurt you so badly that you have given up?”
I said, “The same force that hurt you”
She thought, “I don’t understand not wanting love”
She said, “But if we give up we die”
I thought, “It will just become about control”
I said, “Do you like me as I am or
do you have a vision of what I could be to you?”
She said, “I know what you are asking
You want to know if I have a life or will I make you become my life”
I said, “Yes… are you waiting to live or do you live now?”
She said, “Yes, I have a life but I want to love someone
I want them to love me
It’s what makes life worth living”
I said, “You have a dream of love
But do you have a dream of me?”
She said, “I am attracted to how you live
I want to know how you are”
I said, “If I make love to you
we will be swept up in emotions
Can you do this and still let me fly?”
She said, “Is freedom all that matters to you?
Is flying life or is love?”
I said, “Love is life but flying is freedom
And without freedom I will die”
I asked, “Can you love and let someone be free?”
She asked, “What do you mean?”
I said, “Can you live if I fly without you?”
She asked, “Will you fly with someone else?”
I said, “You see no other bird do you?”
She thought, “What is it that I want?”
She asked, “Can you not fly with me?”
I said, “Yes but only if I am not compelled by you
You cannot live to fly with me
You must live to let me fly”
She asked, “Why must I wait for you?”
I said, “We have not made love and you already question me”
She said, “You are telling me I must wait for you and wonder”
I said, “Yes”
She asked, “What kind of a man are you?
I said, “A free man
Can you build a nest
With a bird that will only fly?"
She said, "I can build a nest
With a bird that wants a nest
And not one that will never land
I do not wish to control you
I only wish to love you
If you cannot accept my love
Then remain free as you think you are
But remember me when you are lonely
Because my love would have set you free"
Thoughts in flight,
"It is not for me to decide
But instead
What is heard by maidens far
And near
Is the matter
As they weigh
The sound of the calling
Against the needs
Of their hearts
And the decision
To set sail
Towards the unknown
But familiar resonance
Of home
Which remains
But a wonder
To the pied piper"