Songbird

Long-sought independence flies with the songbird.
Awed by her newly found voice, she—and curiosity—
descend from my steady branches
and expand their wings over wobbly terrain.
I search for the wire cage—where did I leave it last?
Yet my reel is broken and my hooks are left unhinged.
I try to call her name,
but there is no song to guide her home
as she escapes into the joyous loneliness of freedom.