Forgotten Wings

By MS

Forgotten wings
Disused & abandoned
Tricked self into believing that you (we) couldn’t fly
World weary… head heavy
Barely sleeping
Fitfully resting my eyes
Dazed

Does this pass for dreaming
I can feel the wind on my face
Eyes – wide open
I can see these wings carrying me to the other side…

At second glance, I realize that I am dreaming
It wasn’t me soaring
Dis-used & abandoned
Seeking the courage to spread my wings
And fly on forgotten wings

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5 Comments

  1. Allie Baldwin on November 20, 2018 at 1:34 PM

    I loveeee your poem. At second glance, things always seem a bit different with a different perspective, huh? Perhaps, you’re spirit is already flying, but you just haven’t fully dreamt the dream yet. Keep dreaming, it will be your reality.

  2. Caroline on February 5, 2019 at 11:47 AM

    This is so expressive! I thought the wings were a very interesting and brilliant metaphor.

  3. Sue Anna Clark on February 15, 2019 at 12:01 PM

    MS,
    This is a powerful piece. I like your “you (we)” as discuss with yourself whether or not you were flying/dreaming. I often have chatter in my head that calls me ‘we’. Beginning and ending with ‘forgotten wings’, preceded by ‘disused and abandoned’ is what gives this its power; like a punch. Many readers will relate to ‘seeking the courage to spread my wings and fly on forgotten wings’ as the endgame to those daydreams of taking flight (risks?) that we don’t take. And then the reader will recognize that for you there is an element of literal need/desire to fly to freedom.

    Only editorial thought is a question: Why do you spell disused in two different ways?

  4. Kayelynn on April 19, 2020 at 3:33 PM

    MS,

    Heartfelt language and a powerful ending. For all of us, there have been times where we don’t let ourselves dream and lose touch with that part of us. And your poem touched on that beautifully. Great writing!

  5. JM on November 13, 2020 at 3:19 PM

    Dear MS,

    Thank you for sharing this poem. I particularly liked the line, “Tricked self into believing that you (we) couldn’t fly.” This line stuck with me throughout the poem because although you speak of wings that are “disused and abandoned,” this line still asserts that the idea that you can’t “fly” is a trick. I also liked this because you say “you {we}”– and I interpreted this as you speaking from one part of yourself to another. I think that’s something everyone can relate to as a dialogue in their head– the voice that believes in you and the one that doesn’t. This poem was a good reminder to listen to the voice that believes more than the one that doesn’t! Thanks again for writing and sharing this poem.

    Best,
    JM

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