The Homing Bird

By M. Balasubramaniam

A young fledgling climbed to the nest’s edge.

Mother and Father birds stood really proud.

Leaving fate to the winds, it took a plunging dive.

The parents watched their son from afar.

Soaring low in a new sky,

trying to reach a stable height,

he flapped his wings against strong winds,

running from vicious hawks and wild beasts.

He settled for a life in a cage,

losing interest in the food and flock.

Every time he hit a lower rung,

another fall of despair opened up.

An unexpected windfall opened the cage.

He flew out with vigour and hope.

The image of home lending power to his wings,

he took to home again, like a drugging berry.

The protective shell had given him time to loosen up.

but, he had loosened up too much.

He lost the will to change directions

and a sudden hurricane left him blinded.

The cage claimed its prisoner again,

with promises of false comfort.

Pecking at the poison of insecurity,

he lay paralyzed as storms battered him.

He lays helpless, his feathers falling fast,

his body losing the needed buoyancy.

His food is soured with hate and jealousy.

He flapped futilely, wishing the cage would break.

Now he lies in wait, for the smallest opening in the cage,

prepared to brave the winds and the hawks.

Just waiting for the right wind current,

to home in back to his protective nest.

By M. Balasubramaniam