slanted bird 
   


birds in bare branches
slanted
they take their wings for granted
that's what i've always wanted

i lost my way a long time ago
now when i'm found, i'm wanting
my voice always sounded afar remote
silence like a chastity belt 
locked round my throat
no choice about the felt-lined vise
but if you looked beyond the moat
you could see the screams behind my eyes

my gran, when i was nine,
came bandy-legged and hand-bagged 
to see what she would find
she'd heard rumors of innocence plundered
so she put on her rescue-suit, that woman wonder
and she asked me questions i could not deny
she asked me questions to which i could not reply
i didn't know quite the right thing to say
but she wrapped me in her cloak
and she took me flying anyway

like those birds in bare branches 
slanted
taking their wings for granted 
that's what i've always wanted

like a bird in bare branches
slanting
breaking the silence
chanting
never more found 
wanting

i'm a bird in bare branches
slanted
i'll take these wings i'm granted
for they are what i've always wanted

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image & text © sass

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