by Melva Athans

Created on: February 24, 2009

Fragile Wings

Behind the weather-board pales, where his screams are muffled cries

He finds solace and protection within the wired fence

In a garden bed hidden by a shrub and sweet paper wrappers

A crushed soul swoops to comfort an outcast with broken wings

A desperate reach for it causes a momentary struggle

It's captured fluttering resigned to the fleshy iron bars

Its racing heart slows; it succumbs to the auspicious stranger

Releasing, relinquishing, quietening

Lives entwined like a needle thread of tapestry

Intricately and delicately complimenting the stripped canvas

He recalls a time when outstretched arms bathed and warmed

When comfort was found in love rather than in a bottle of gin

An urgency to protect overwhelms, a soothing shield engulfing

Its wings now outstretched, it finds comfort in the balmy hands

Such fortune from this solitary stranger

Protecting, mending, while restoring their right to flight

Learn more about this author, Melva Athans.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.