It's A Long Way

Take the leap, and Caetano Veloso

First flight on tender unused limbs,

beautifully unaware of awaiting heights,

and with no concept of what a moment could be

once wings take wind.

What is known is now

distilled through the instrument of mortality.

Cells respond with ancestral knowledge,

the unproven theory:

this body is meant to fly,

guarantee free.

Jump.

One or one hundred feet

falling or flying

gravity works the same.

The terrestrial home remains,

as does the open container of sky.

Only the body container keeps life

one drop from an endless well,

now flying.

Life, once it's movement finished here,

the body a crumpled autumn leaf.

Eons of cosmic forces

coalesced to express itself

as a bird

or as human.

Both are as punctuations,

in an epic story

whose characters are unknown and distant.

From our pinhole perspective,

our concerns focused on the immediate and personal,

seeking comfort and certainty,

we have sacrificed what was not ours.

Manmade materials now outweigh life on Earth.

Now, as always, we choose:

the lonely corner of existence -

cultural, political, ideological, or species -

or life itself.

Guarantee free

this life was meant to thrive,

trusting the unproven theory.

Cells respond with ancestral knowledge,

distilled through the instrument of mortality.

What is known is now

Take the leap.

This piece was inspired by Caetano Veloso's track, "It's A Long Way"

#writing #poetry #yoga #compassion #dignity #respect #ahimsa #love #soul #funk