First Flight

The eagle teetered on the ledge, Its first flight dead ahead! Surveying all, next to the edge, Its young heart filled with dread! But Nature whispered on the wind, 'Just take your time, my friend...' And though the eagle's brain still spinned, Its fears came to an end... Then all at once, its heart was brave And with one single bound, It raised itself as if by faith, Its wings above the ground! And off it swooped, the maiden flight, With courage fate decreed... And gravity soon lost the fight With thermals to succeed! So up it flew the thermal swirl, Cascading now and then... Then onward, upward, twist and twirl, Till coasting once again... But, oh, the flying! That's first rate! Although it feels so rash... Of course, the landing's not that great, First time it's with a crash! To think, each eagle's forced to learn, To wing-it, as it were... And just like others, take its turn, So miracles occur! Who knows how high the eagles fly? I'm jealous as can be! But I'm no angel, just a guy... I'll stick to poetry... Denis Martindale, copyright, October 2011.