Flight

If I could fly
I'd swing myself so high I'd
flip
Right over the bars,
flip, right out into the sky
just to watch the shocked eyes
when I didn't crash to the ground.

If I could fly
I'd sprint forward, spring outward
FLING myself out
off the mountain,
off the cliff,
OUT
into the open air, breathe in
that most sacred of breeze
the fresh
the cool clean crispness of it all
turn around,
past the eagles, and fly
right back to you,
wind in my hair.

If I could fly
I'd hold you tight
I'd take you out
into the clouds
OUT
above the rainbows
out
beyond our eyesight where nothing can touch us
Nobody can reach us
Nothing could hurt us
Being so high, flying away.
I'd watch you laugh and cling to me
Cling, like you do to my leg
when I'm cooking
but this would be better
so free, you and me.

If I could fly
I'd float around
when my legs got tired
toes not touching the ground
I'd take advantage
of my new skill
to replace
that most fundamental of exercise.

But most of all...
If I could fly,
I'd fly right up among those steely beams,
Twist that red ribbon around my wrist, tie it
make sure it wouldn't let loose again,
wrap it
around my arm

and bring that balloon back to you...
wipe away those crocodile tears
and see you smile, again.
Again.