High Flight Revisited

I was running from the world,
Running from society;
On the fringes of the earth,
Lost to man's reality.
Nowhere left to run,
Nowhere left to hide;
High above I spied her,
And there I did abide.

Soaring on the updrafts,
Effortless grace of wing;
Lost there in her glory,
This vision so addicting...
I cried out to my Angel,
But my words were lost.
She thought I was the falconer -
Come for some sweet Pentecost.

I never once thought to ensnare her,
Or worse tame her for my own;
I did not need a martyr,
Or a goddess to enthrone.
Just a teacher of the upper air
To help me on my way.
Just to borrow heaven's light,
My demons then to slay.

She was born with gift of flight -
It showed in those keen eyes.
Her spirit flew between my reason;
It swept away my alibies.
I opened my heart to be her meal,
If not my willing teacher;
But though she danced there for a time -
I could never reach her.

I was born with gift of vision -
I see into men's souls.
Things that will be or yet could be,
And lies that take their tolls.
And though I see the Face of God,
I cannot know the healing touch.
My penance is the lack of love,
My hell is made of such...

The night came hard,
As did cold, bitter rain,
The falcon left for shelter;
She left me in my pain.
A brilliant moon shown past black cloud -
Their edges brilliant silver.
My tears were lost to all but me,
My soul the night beleaguered...

But I knew that somewhere in that night
A bird of prey watched moon as well;
Safe and dry in lofty perch,
Her demons she can quell.
Safe within her fortress,
Does she give thought to me?
Alone beneath the moon's cold stare,
Perhaps just casually...

The break of day now burns my eyes,
On mud-caked heels come demons fast.
Wet and tired I mount my steed,
The dreams of night my sole repast...

Soaring on the updrafts,
Effortless grace of wing;
Lost there in our glory,
The vision so addicting.
I cried out to my Angel,
Love lost and then reborn;
My soul hers and her soul mine,
The weight of earth forsworn...