Crawling in my forlorn appearance

I hide my soul behind these tattered wings

Tattered and broken as they are

Plucked of light,

stained in tears and blood.

In quiet despair upon the cold earth

Smeared in dirt I crouch upon my weary knees

And clutched timidly between my fingers

Rests one last jewel of Hope.

A single unblemished plume plucked

From the silver light of dawn

A feathered ray of light from beyond

To illuminate the void that has me bound.

This precious barb of silk

Once lost as I was and forgotten

Blazes now to immerse me in radiant bliss

To wash away the pain, draw me from the abyss.

So now I fade away…

My tender flesh removed

My shattered wings released

My inner light unsheathed… escapes.

(c)2004 Joseph Palladino