the sound of escape

would that i could climb this shadow-tree

and escape to wherever it goes,

one foot here,

a hand there,

hold my breath,

carefully place the other foot

and just keep climbing,

a short rest on the roof

and then onward,

upward,

away, away.

how unfair to not have wings,

to not have kittycat claws,

to have instead these mortal woman toes and hands

that keep me bound,

keep me prisoner,

when i can see all that sky

and hear it calling.

freedom, it says, freedom.

ritchie havens sang it at woodstock

and the sky sings it now,

and i hear but am earthbound,

duties here calling just as loudly

though with not so sweet a tune,

not right now;

that will change, it always changes,

i know, i know,

but today the sound of escape is the song i hear.

an escape to pretty,

to all mine,

to quiet,

to time,

to breezes blowing through open windows,

white curtains fluttering as they pass.

an escape to overhead stars

and slow moving summer nights,

nowhere to go.

a boat on the water

drifting, drifting, drifting,

no sound but my breath and his,

no sound.