What Flying Is About**

What Flying Is About

 

Only a few birds are excellent fliers

 

The best is the pelican,

But close behind him

 

Are the turkey vulture

And the hummingbird

 

The vulture because his majestic grace

Is so incongruous with his looks and lifestyle,

And the hummingbird because he redefines

 

What flying is about

 

Seagulls, ibises, and all the migrating species

Are good fliers only when they are in groups

And headed to important things �"

 

Otherwise, they are ordinary!

 

Now, you may not agree with any of this,

 

And you may believe that

I have foolishly omitted

 

The eagle from this consideration

 

But you must concede

That none of my beliefs

 

Can be objectively refuted -

 

And that is the hard-won truth

Of poetry, faith, hope, and love.