Wings for Sale ~~ anna hood

The ad read: Wings
slightly used

and my common
or uncommon sense flew
out the window to the cliff
by the sea
where I met him

fluttering down
his white wings rouged
with evening light.
He was singing like Frank
Come fly with me, come
fly, we’ll fly away
and although he didn’t have
Frank’s voice he did
have blue eyes.

I examined the construction
- no fool I -
the feathers were strong.
What sort are these, I asked.
Swan, he replied,
and he showed me how secure
was his wax, his bindings
of silk.

He cautioned me
about the sun
about the damp
then bid me jump
into the darkening fields
of sky and flap
and flap.

The setting sun stroked
me with orange fingers
planted white feathers
on my shoulders
and I bit the wind
with my black beak
and rose into the silvery night
and never looked back.