A haunted bird
Finding refuge
In the shadows.

The comfort of a dark place,
Away from the blinding light
Of scrutiny or critique.

Wings leaden
By a thick layer of doubt,
And painful memories.

A quiet place to sit in silence.
Far from the wide open sky,
And the ground waiting below.

A withering and sad beast
Living within a cage
Of anonymity.

Words, forms, sounds, ideas…
Unwilling prisoners
Of fear and safety.

The bird must break the cage,
And take a leap of blind faith
With open wings and sharing heart.

It will either learn to fly,
Or find its death in freedom
Trying.