face drawn, pale and pallid,
eyes sunken as spirit tarried,
rattled cage o' tired invalid
fifty suns soul had carried

the flame waned and flickered
in frame worn and withered,
battle scarcely begun
before adversary won

and now the wings unclipped 'n ready
waited for abeyance of inner eddy
waited to be free at last
of physical prison, physical cast

the spirit feels can linger no more
it rattles and shakes and knocks on door
with one last guttural click and snore
breaks free the darkness, begins to soar.