Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 15:32:43 -0800
From: Mitch Roley 


                  SOUL'S FLIGHT

                       by

                   Loki Steele


In anguish, I watch the sun as it rises from behind the distant
snow-capped peaks.
Longing with every breath that fills my feathered breast to once again soar
and feel the scented breeze caress my cheek.

My pinions answer in a moment to my heart's desire, and beat the air 
with ponderous strokes of my tired but brilliant wings.
I rise swiftly, and then am again ruthlessly jerked backwards to the confining dust.
A prisoner of that tormenting and loathsome thing.

A chain imbedded deep into the unrelenting rock,
and mercilessly encircles my torn and bleeding limb,
secures me to the earth.  Far away from freedom, love and dreams.
Coercing my sight to drop, and become dim.

In anger, my golden head strikes repeatedly against that imprisioning band 
as my spirit cries for liberty with one more try.
My beak chips, then cracks as I strive with all that is in me 
to live--not die!

Great sobs rack my glorious frame as I shudder against the rock.
Freedom, I will and must have--Whatever, the cost!
A decision is made, the deed is quickly done, and thoughts are upon
what is gained, and not upon what is lost.

The Eagle once again soars free, and eagerly climbs 
toward his lofty mountain home.
Pondering upon majestic things,
and not upon the foot still chained to the stone.