Unbridled

Unbridled ( a poem by Hillary Sheppers)

This poem comes to you unfolded

like the parted wings of a

mariposa I hope you

one day take off

in these colors: blue, red, apple.

Without ever having known,

without any thought or practice,

without lesson or trial, one day

a chick leaves the nest—

and I want to say you have no fear,

but you have

a long fear

of never passing through the open gate,

of being tangled up in many ropes.

Because

people have been telling you to

carry a machete

and to not fall in love . . .

you have forgotten how the child goes:

You must pretend

there is no rope—

the only chain you need

is the spine on your back.

And so flies the swallow,

whistling of the sea, fast and

wild over the mountain,

unbridled, cerulean, the blood

with freedom to fly and freedom to fall,

you will know

who you are —

in the voice

carrying wind —