By Beverly Wong, April 1, 2021

I blink and with laser focus

I scan across miles of sky and earth

Every blade of grass, tree, knoll, rockfall

My glasses no longer needed.

Catching currents

Takes me higher in the atmosphere

Stretching my wingtips to full extension

Are these my arms?

I spot movement in the meadow

As I dive down to snatch a rabbit

My claws reach, but the lucky prey scoots off

Just in time.

These talons are my toes

Razor sharp

A nail file could not dull them.

Flap, flap, flap

I hoist my body to the sky

Gaining distance from the speckled earth

I travel a great distance in a short span

My bones light as my feathers

Where are my clothes?

Downy plumage, black and white markings

Sleek and gleaming in the sunlight

I open my beak to speak.

What happened to my mouth?

“Scree, scree, scree”

Sounds not words in flight.