Lost flight

The western sun throws its light onto a turbulent sea
And a cold southern wind flutters my big blue wing
softly brushing the hair from my eyes
Soon, soon, I'll soar and play in the winter air
A moment of freedom in flight, and sheer delight
Weightless

A few steps and I'm that place again
Sacred
Curving through air and space and timeless
I laugh, and circle, the world spread to its ends

And smash, flash, thrash into cold grey heartless rock
and pain crashes back into the world and flight is lost in my agonised cry of "Why!"

My wing lies a shroud over the cliffs above
while I sob my breaths clinging to a ledge
Broken
A bird whose wings are torn and bleeding

God, I've sought you in that sanctity of space and flight where my heart's yearning calls out
And now, somehow, will I find you in the haze and weightiness of my broken return to earth?


...
On Sunday we watched George fly and curve through the air, and then turn into a cliff face on Slangkop at 5.12pm. Adam climbed up to him while I called a rescue helicopter and we all watched as he was lifted off and taken to hospital with a smashed patella and broken ankle. My prayer for George is not only for healing, but also that the Healer would draw near and that George would "fly" anew.

"You came near when I called you, and said: 'Do not fear'. O Lord, you took up my case and redeemed my life."  Lamentations 3:57-58