I have climbed the cliff
To gain a chance for praise
Alas, the times I know too well
Are ones where I have fallen
The air itself had parted beneath me
Now to the cold, unwelcoming ground
My body is left to lay

But something sparked in my writhing mind
"Take the leap once more"
Brushing off the fear and dust
My ascent began anew

Before a word was uttered
The ground was far beneath my feet
Left behind with those worthless doubts
Today, I took flight

And when the wind was no longer
Beneath my frail, young wings
Smiling faces met my eyes
Warmed my heart
And caught me

And I take the leap:
        This is what flying feels like
One voice says to me
         This is what falling is
Another voice says

          And I sometimes
                              wonder
                                          which voice I should listen to
          Those are the days
                               I wonder
                                           what flying feels like

           I wonder
                      if I could feel the air in my face
                                                            ­             in my hair
                        spreading my lips into a smile
           Or if all I could feel was an impact
                                       A shattering of bones
                                              A skip of the heartbeat
                                                                ­              and then

           no more....



                                  Was it even worth jumping in the first place then?

If my life last only mere seconds
                                    why even consider it?

                                                               ­   But I think has something to do                              
                                                                ­                        with the difference
                                               between  
                                    living
            ­                                and
                             ­                    barely
                                                        su­rviving

Leaping light
Flashing fire
One moment he is gone
But to return
Suspended
Hanging
Then with a splash
Delightful play
He dives
And disappears
And we are left alone
And longing

1982

erupting in me
like they had been in a cage.
maybe they were,
but you released them.
now they're free and
they leap every time
they hear you,
every time they see you,
every time
you are near me.