"Flight of the Swans"
Greg Budig 2021
Alistair sits on a
lonely bare hillside.
He's surrounded by
the shadows of his
black and gray world.
He thinks about adventure,
but he often feels afraid.
He stares into the darkness
and the darkness stares back.
He wasn't always
like this... then he
began his doubts.
Maybe life wasn't as
simple as it seemed?
Grounded by insecurities,
afraid to spread his wings,
he could feel himself
being slowly left behind.
He felt stranded on an
island of his own creation.
Alone in a world where
nothing will ever change.
A life of farm chores
and going to school.
Of learning about places
that he will never see.
Each day he travels
down the worn,
gravel farm roads.
Kicking up stones as he
trudged his way home.
Another day stuck
in the lonely brick
schoolhouse. Another
day of staring at the
clock on the wall.
Surrounded by frustration.
Alone in his daydreams.
He wonders about life
and all there is to see.
His father once told him,
"You never know where
life will take you.
So just keep your eyes open
and be ready for it to change. "
And then one
night after dinner
was over, he went
for a walk through
the low rolling hills.
He climbs to the top
of the highest dark hillside
and stares into the distance
as far as he could see.
When high up above
him came a sound
that was ancient.
Like the haunting cries
of a lost warrior tribe.
Voices of spirits that rode
the north jetstream.
From far away places
that he had never seen.
The call of the swans
drifts high from the distance.
It was mournful and longing.
It was wild, it was free.
Above him they
appeare like ghosts
through the darkness.
There are hundreds
and thousands of white
outstretched wings!
Their trumpeting song
lit a flame deep inside him!!
He raised up his eyes and
could again clearly see!!
He wished he could fly
so he could reach
out and join them.
He now knew
it was time to shed
his fears and be free!
His spirit was returned
by a thousand swan voices.
His troubles carried away on
their massive white wings.
He smiled as his world
began to open up before him.
And as his father once
told him... "You never know
where life will take you.
So keep your eyes open and
be ready for it to change!!"
The End
