Flight

A spiritual journey about returning home.

Flight

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

Above the Spires of this citadel 

Arise my spirit; on winds that blow

I cast my fate to fruitious favor 

Climb the heights on wings of labor 

I know not where my journey ends

Or destined love of heart portends

I'll sail upon this tender breeze

In hopes that affection comforts me 

Tempted within this asperous world

I'm moved by faith on wings unfurled 

In this place where dreams made of

To reach and touch this greater love

So do not weep in tears of sorrow 

We'll meet again; someday, tomorrow  

Where hope springs eternal to every eye

And where restless hearts forever fly

Author's Note

...For Kahlil Gibran; who gave me the lessons that a father gives to son. Never truly having one in my life I am inspired to be a better human being because of his words. Within each and everyone of us resides compassionate qualities of our better humanity. But in order to reach these hidden virtues of treasured love one must be willing to open up their heart willingly. Do not let hate and anger define who you are. Let love be the key to your freedom.

Reviews

[light and ashes]

This reads like a prayer.
I love it, and yes, I love Kahlil Gibran. An amazing soul, that one.
At one point I believed him to be my favorite writer.

I found a copy of, "The Madman," that belonged to my great grandmother (I think), after I already knew about him and was already a fan.
It was a cool thing to discover.
Clearly, we had some similar tastes.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Gibran is a poet's poet. What we strive for our art to be within us. For the qualities of compassion, virtue, and love echo those greater aspirations. Rarely does Kahlil mention God but instead speaks of a greater love. It is that love that is synonymous towards the spiritual and ethical virtues that reside in each and everyone of us. For Gibran saw the invisible wings within us all that call towards our better angels. There is no greater gift to leave behind in the world than to have lived a better life filled with compassion and that greater love. And to me Gibran is the feathers of every poets heart that soars towards that greater love. This poem I wrote is one of my favorites because to me it is inspired by an amazing human being. And the words he left behind for us all.

[Soren]

A giving and compassionate heart is a gift that some possess and others have to learn. This is a beautiful tribute to a life well lived and the eternal essence left behind. Very moving.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Soren. Life to me has always been a yearning. To rise higher than what I'm capable of. To be just a better me. It has never been seen as a way to be greater than others. Because we are flawed creatures. Prone to err and mistaken choices. Our regrets are footsteps forward towards a better path to self. Because when we look back right before taking that last step we see the path we have charted and chosen. And only than can we ask of ourselves are we deserving of wings?

[duff]

Moved by the continuum of future. Knowing we will not win a war with the past but evolving into something better is what we can hope for. Great work. Really enjoyed it.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Duff for sharing your thoughts on this piece with me. The message of this poem still resonates with me and in some ways echoes with the many pieces I write and have submitted. It is a yearning to see beyond the confines of flesh in order to realize our true potential as human beings. The journey of our greater self. Comprised of all the lessons and sorrows we have endured in order to evolve towards our greater love. We cling to the comforts of our fallibilities and their remnants as we live. But the true journey begins once we let them go. Only then can we truly take flight. Thank you again for your kind comment about this poem.

[Ruth]

Amazing piece Carlos! So brimming with acceptance and brightly portrayed heart prints etched with soulful insight...Gibran was a remarkable writer and this is a remarkable poem of yours :)

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Ruth for your sweet comment on this poem. Gibran wrote with a love and passion for humanity that few ever have. With a spiritual optimism that we can achieve our greater humanity by simply loving greater. It is an eternal message that holds the most simplest profound truth. At times we may be cynical of what value and worth we can actually offer the world, but a little love can be such a greater change in the most difficult of times. To me the words of Gibran will always be those wings of flight.

[Ada]

This poem gives a sense of hope and redemption while dreams are thought of as having greater purpose...its rare to see thought provoking poems that rhyme but you do a nice job.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Ada for your kind comment on this piece. Art truly does inspire art. One can't help but see a greater humanity in the works of Kahlil Gibran. He speaks of the spiritual not in religious context but human aspirational motivation. To simply be better people. The same idea that MLK Jr. spoke of in reference to content of character. A divine sense of our better human qualities. We fly to greater heights when we dream and reach our greater humanity when we love. A person that loves without regret and unconditionally will never be forgotten. Thank you again.

[Sami Khalil]

I saw your name on the newsfeed so I thought to visit you. What a wonderful tribute to Gibran. You did him justice.
Side note: Although him being raised up a Maronite, he was influenced by studying Islam and Bahaism at the end. Hence the usage of the title (Al Mustafa) that he used in his famous book (The Prophet) which is one of the prophet Muhammad's titles (PBUH). Before his death, he met and drew the Baha in his studio and some believe he converted to that faith (Bahais claim him).
His message was universal and that is what I believe in.
Excellent work Carlos...

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Sami we both share a mutual admiration for this incredible writer and enlightened man. Despite our falliblities as human beings we are not deprived of reaching our greater humanity. His artistry recognizes the good in every heart and the yearning for that greater love.

[Sami Khalil]

All true and well said. You are welcome.

[Ascian]

Portends? My second time reading this poem I caught this word. I don't think I ever heard it before. This is a very moving poem to read.
"I'll sail upon this tender breeze
In hopes that affection comforts me" fave part.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you for your comment on this poem I really appreciate it. I wrote this after reading the work of the great writer Kahlil Gibran and his masterpiece The Prophet. I wanted to convey the same essence his writing within his book defined. It is a very spiritual piece. Thank you again my friend for your thoughts.

[M. J. Smith]

Wonderful soaring words. Made my feel less me flying. Love transcends so much. But only when we dispel the clouds of hate. Well written, my friend.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you M.J. for your comment on this poem. It really was my homage to the great writer Kahlil Gibran. His words really made me feel like I could fly in a spiritual sense. And be a better person.

[jen]

Carlos, it's been awhile since I've visited. I am struggling to hear you though, I have in the past fallen into your verse and understood. You are an amazing poet I know. This is a poem about love and want to connect. I just feel disconnected from the message.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Jenny I really do appreciate your honest comment on this piece. The poem is actually inspired by the writings of Kahlil Gibran. His art was very spiritual in nature and asked of his reader to strive toward their greater humanity and love. I read his great book called the Prophet. After finishing it I was inspired to compose this piece as a remembrance of his fine work. I found his words comforting especially now during my current bout of depression. It was my intention to convey a sense of hope that most of Gibran's writing displays. Akin to the spiritual rather than religiosity. I think many will find different meaning in this poem and there own interpretation. I could understand if the message may not resonate art is like that at times and much like how you have felt reading this poem I have felt as well reading many other works that were thoughtful and wonderfully composed but just didn't connect with me. I admire your honest Jenny and thank you for taking the time to read this and let me know how you felt. That means a lot to me.

[Lathen Griffiths]

I enjoyed the the lightness and positivity that is abundant within your words here Carlos, my favourite writing of Kahlil Gibran’s is ‘The Madman’ with his many masks, excellent.

All the best

Lathen

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Lathen for your comment on this piece I appreciate it. I have "The Madman" on my must read list so I will definitely be checking that out soon. I just find his work incredibly spiritual and philosophically resonate. Thank you again my friend for your thoughts.