Wordless Conversation With A Winged Wiseman

“Yet another zoo! What could be new?”

I walked past grinning camels, munching goats

Contemplative cows and sleepy wild cats when

I stopped in my tracks, drawn by his intense gaze.

He sat alone in his miserable eight by eight

His dark, round eyes shining very bright.

Oh, The falcon! I mused. *What a mighty bird!

A king among ordinary others! A picture of pride!*

*But here in this zoo, just another prisoner!

A mere shadow of his real, shining self!

Does he remember where he belongs?

His home, the endless vast skies and the beyond?*

“Do you remember where you really belong?

Ever wonder if something was wrong?”

The calm voice wasn’t heard by ears

But reached within somehow, it did.

The question stabbed at the core of my being

He was right and that struck, again and again.

“Yes, I am a prisoner; you’re a prisoner too

To each, his own cage, for now, that's true!”

So sang the feathery sage, sitting on his perch

His mirthful eyes holding my shocked gaze

Who’d think falcons could laugh and sing

Much less talk about such deep things?

“It’s easy to forget that this isn’t our place

But, forget not, hold the home thoughts close.

This cage isn’t mine, that cage isn’t yours either

Yet, we live and love not aware of anything better.

Take some time off from the surrounding chatter

The home would draw close once you clear the clutter.

The cage stifles, yes, but the cage teaches too

Used wisely, it’d take you where you want to go.

Learn what you can and never forget to remember

That you belong not here, not in any cage, but elsewhere.

Goodbye my friend! And remember! Always remember!”

Said the falcon-sage and closed his dark, round eyes.

I gathered my unused camera and walked on feeling light

The evening sun watching me, his orange self very bright.

The day folded up, but the spirit within wouldn’t

Another teacher ffound in the journey that’s homeward bound.

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Image from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Peregrine\falcon\x.jpg