6/28/2011

Flying Lessons

(Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

No, I can't, not all by myself, not without you .

Or so it seems down here on the ground
Surrounded by the others still earthbound.
There’s safety in numbers, or so they say.
But there's little to feed the longing for blue sky,
Wide open with adventure, could I find a way.

What if I had the courage to take that first step,
Jump off into space, head out on my own,
Risk trying my wings and flying alone?
What new heights might I reach, were I
Not afraid of the height of the wide open sky?

What if I were to chance it and go without you?
Would I discover I have the strength to do 
Anything I choose, if I just look inside  
Instead of turning to you for permission to fly?
Can I take the leap, even though terrified?

Yes, I can, because now it's time. It's what I must do.

Besides, you've taught me well.



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Written for One Shot Wednesday, which is a year old. Happy Birthday, One Stop Poetry!.
Posted by PattiKen
Labels: ,

24 comments:

  1. signed...bkmJune 28, 2011 at 4:08 PM

    Yes the breaking away from our teachers is a huge step...even when we know it is the best thing we can do for ourself...bkm

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  2. Brian MillerJune 28, 2011 at 4:27 PM

    fly on patti...there comes a time we have to find our own way...we take what we learned and use it aswe craft our own destiny...

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  3. BainoJune 28, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    Hmm wish I had the courage to fly! Very hard to do it alone sometimes.

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  4. UnknownJune 28, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    Y9our last line is perfect. Inspiring.

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  5. ScarletJune 28, 2011 at 5:35 PM

    Love it. We are always afraid to take that first step, yet once we do, we become braver and bolder. Soar and bring us airborne ~

    Nice to meet you~

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  6. TomJune 28, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    we all have wings-some of us just don't know how to use them

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  7. Pat HattJune 28, 2011 at 6:29 PM

    Some point everyone has to spread their wings, bird or human, nicely wrote.

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  8. UnknownJune 28, 2011 at 11:24 PM

    Somehow, I think you've always had the necessary courage. I'm just sayin'.

    See my post for Wednesday - coincidentally, it's an Eagle.

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  9. steveroniJune 28, 2011 at 11:40 PM

    Go on. JUMP! But make sure your parachute is buckled! That's not really what I meant--grin!

    First time I flew with my little 18-year-old daughter I kept praying thus: "Dear God what in the WORLD am I doing up here?"

    We did not have 'chutes.
    She landed the plane perfectly.
    We are still 'friends'!!!
    PEACE!

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  10. Maude LynnJune 29, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    This is really well done!

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  11. G-ManJune 29, 2011 at 12:03 AM

    Patticake...
    Courage My Friend.
    I wish I had some....G

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  12. Tara R.June 29, 2011 at 11:32 AM

    Beautifully written. With a daughter headed to grad school this fall, and finally moving out on her own, I wonder if she has similar thoughts to this.

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  13. ayalaJune 29, 2011 at 4:08 PM

    Do it... Fly ... You never know where it will take you!

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  14. JonasJune 29, 2011 at 7:11 PM

    Oh, I like this! And the reason why? 'Cuz it sets me flying in all directions.

    There's a certain satisfaction one may obtain from scratching in the dirt.

    There's the sheer thrill of flying.

    There's this niggling question: Would Icarus have penned this to his Dad, Daedalus?

    But, then, there's the sheer thrill of flying...

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  15. AnonymousJune 30, 2011 at 12:32 AM

    I think the courage aspect is great, but what really fascinates me about this poem is the relationship between the speaker and spoken-to characters.

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  16. PattiKenJune 30, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    Thanks for your comments, Everyone.

    Lots of people have said lots of things about courage, but Charlie Chaplin's comment about it speaks most directly to me.

    "Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself."

    P.S. Randall, your comment intrigues me. I'm curious about whom you see as the speaker and whom the spoken-to. If you see this, would you e-mail me and let me know?

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  17. Life@CeeJune 30, 2011 at 2:20 PM

    Very brave words. Happy flying.

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  18. PJJune 30, 2011 at 2:43 PM

    Beautifully written and a perfect picture to go along with it. Speaking straight to me at this point in life. I may print a tiny copy to keep with me as a reminder of what can be, if thatʻs okay with you.

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  19. Grandmother MaryJune 30, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    Ready, jump, set!

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  20. Sherry Blue SkyJuly 1, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    Yes, you can!!!!!

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  21. That gentleman's ladyJuly 2, 2011 at 1:32 PM

    I asked myself this very question a few months ago, knowing that I was going to lose my best friend. He said that I would soar and fly high.

    I'm still waiting to find out.

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  22. moondustwriterJuly 4, 2011 at 12:14 PM

    aww - I spent days watching a pair of doves as they prepared to fly from the nest. One made it the other hopefully will manage we had to put him carefully back in the nest ( yes his parents still accepted him)
    for some the flight is harder than others

    Love to you my friend

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  23. AnonymousJuly 4, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    I particularly like the line about feeding the longing for the blue sky. I imagine that must be a very strong motivator when learning to fly. I often equate jumping into the unknown in life as flying and the vastness of the metaphorical sky is very hard to resist. Very well written. I really like the sentiments you express here.

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  24. AnonymousJuly 8, 2011 at 11:18 AM

    Funny, I wondered the same thing as Jonas- I could nearly hear Icarus holding that one-sided conversation with his father.

    Flight of fancy, feast for the senses, this one.

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Thoughts? I would love to hear from you.

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