the bird at the top of the stairs
 

Television ghosts whisper and flicker
Mosquitos sap and buzz around me
They slip on hot skin

Noise beyond my comfort cell wakes me
to paranoia
Is it the dog?

The blind behind me parts
heart jitters and barks
It's not the dog

Long black limb reaches deep past the blind
hovers
snaps to the floor

The cat has a bird
I snap and leap and lunge
He snakes and winds around walls and up past stairs

The bird lies still at the peak
I pick her up
Red under thundercloud feathers

My finger trembles mock heartbeat
Brushes softly and turns feathers
I look into her eye

In her eye I can see the stars
I can feel cold wind on my face
I feel free, flying away, free, far

I realise that I'm holding a shell
soft and fragile
Too late to catch the flight of angels



Neutone

Neutone,

ending with:
gave me such a great mental picture, and the last line especially really just jumped out. Thanks for sharing and welcome to the Literature Forum!

Great use of imagery here.

I really like that line. Keep posting and I'll keep reading. Be sure to reply to other peoples work and share the love.

Asta!!

Thanks for the encouragement! I'll post again soon.