We dreamed one day she'd fly,
take wing on air as those before her,
to be born blind and naked, soon she'd be 
feathered, clear-eyed, we'd feed her  
brilliant neon damselflies,
foraged seed, our mouth to hers,
tough love is good love, until 
the wind blows and makes the bough break,
we grip the trunk, she on the ground 
agasp amid shattered shells

Michael 2022