Fledgling

.

Let’s go

his body cries

as he clings to the edge

of everything he knows

pulling and stretching

the nuances of air

between each feather

posturing the sun

on his back.

.

Then it comes for him,

the breath of Gaia

rushing in

rushing out

teasing his wild

hungry wings

till he captures her

exhaling

and lets go.

.

©  2017  Betty Hayes Albright

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The Eagle and the Lioness – part 3 of 3

(These three poems were written over a period of 12 years – 1982, 1983, and 1994.)

.

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

come lunch here next to me —

we can eat such fine desserts

beneath the sapodillo tree.

.

Said the lioness to the eagle,

I know it would be sweet —

but I am full and your dessert

is more than I dare eat.

 .

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

then come lie in the shade —

you can tell me what you’re thinking

and I’ll show you what I’ve made.

.

Said the lioness to the eagle,

there is naught for you to show,

and my thoughts are far away, you see —

it’s best that you don’t know.

 .

I understand, the eagle sang,

‘tis love you can’t betray.

With that he smiled and spread his wings

and winking, flew away.

.

The lioness whispered after him,

friend, if you only knew –

‘twas for a love I’ve never seen

that I was being true.

.

(c) 1994, 2012 Betty Hayes Albright

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The Eagle and the Lioness – part 2 of 3

Called the lioness to the eagle,

it’s time for you to fly,

I’ve wakened from my dream now

and we have to say goodbye.

Goodbye, goodbye, my playful friend,

you brought such joy to me

as you sang in the branches

of the sapodilla tree.

 .

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

then why must it end?

Can’t we be friends forever

just like we’ve always been?

Could it be that I’ve hurt you

since I have another friend?

Is it because I’ve brought her here?

I cannot comprehend.

 .

Called the lioness to the eagle,

how could you not know –

it hurts to see her fly with you

when I must stay below.

Now fly to your lofty cliffs

and let my heart be free

to make room for another

in the sapodilla tree.

 .

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

this was our meeting ground.

We each brought many things to share,

this was our lost-and-found.

I found new things that I had missed,

and you found lost things too.

I’d hate to think that it’s all gone,

that now I have lost you.

 .

Called the lioness to the eagle,

but you have found a mate.

You never understood my love,

you can’t reciprocate.

But I’ll still be your friend somehow,

my thoughts will fly to you

on a higher meeting ground somewhere –

goodbye, my friend. Adieu.

 .

She watched him slowly turn away

and soar out to the sea

as her tears watered the roots

of the sapodilla tree.

 .

©  1983, 2012 Betty Hayes Albright

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The Eagle and the Lioness – part 1 of 3

(This was first posted last November, as a lone poem – but there are two more parts I neglected to share – to follow.)

.

Called the lioness to the eagle,

let me fly with you

to your favorite places –

I long to see them too.

.

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

I’ll never have you here.

You’re stuck on terra firma,

gravity has made that clear.

 .

Called the lioness to the eagle,

then nest down here with me.

You can have the highest branches

in the sapodilla tree.

.

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

it’s teeth and claws I fear.

I’m sorry, but the sky is safe

and I must stay up here.

.

Called the lioness to the eagle,

It’s safe here on the ground.

My paws have been declawed

and my teeth have been filed down.

.

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

your muscles frighten me.

Just one of your embraces

and I would cease to be.

.

Called the lioness to the eagle,

you won’t suffer my embrace.

I wouldn’t try to hold you

for I’ve given up the chase.

.

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

you’d hypnotize me then .

Your eyes have such charisma

that I’d ne’er be free again.

.

Called the lioness to the eagle,

I won’t gaze at you too long.

I could never mesmerize you

for your will is much too strong.

.

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

then I will be your friend

in the sapodilla tree

until the sky calls me again.

.

Purred the lioness to her heart,

we’ve won his trust this day.

She curled up underneath his wings

and hid desire away.

.

© 1982, 2011 Betty Hayes Albright

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The Eagle and the Lioness

Called the lioness to the eagle,

let me fly with you

to your favorite places –

I long to see them too.

 .

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

I’ll never have you here.

You’re stuck on terra firma,

gravity has made that clear.

 .

Called the lioness to the eagle,

then nest down here with me.

You can have the highest branches

in the sapodilla tree.

 .

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

it’s teeth and claws I fear.

I’m sorry, but the sky is safe

and I must stay up here.

 .

Called the lioness to the eagle,

It’s safe here on the ground.

My paws have been declawed

and my teeth have been filed down.

 .

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

your muscles frighten me.

Just one of your embraces

and I would cease to be.

 .

Called the lioness to the eagle,

you won’t suffer my embrace.

I wouldn’t try to hold you

for I’ve given up the chase.

.

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

you’d hypnotize me then .

Your eyes have such charisma

that I’d ne’er be free again.

.

Called the lioness to the eagle,

I won’t gaze at you too long.

I could never mesmerize you

for your will is much too strong.

 .

Sang the eagle to the lioness,

then I will be your friend

in the sapodilla tree

until the sky calls me again.

 .

Purred the lioness to her heart,

we’ve won his trust this day.

She curled up underneath his wings

and hid desire away.

 .

© 1982, 2011 Betty Hayes Albright 

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