"Baby we were born to fly!"

O common swifts!  You are a wonder.  I saw a few of your scouts last week, as you were making your way from Africa.  I thought you were cliff swallows or purple martins.  But no, you are swifts, with sickle wings and forked tails. 

This morning, it was like stepping into the walk-in lorikeet cage at the OKC Zoo . . . hundreds of you flittering about, past my head.  Almost touching, your wings, my ears.  I thought I heard you whisper but it was the sound of wind under your wings.

Amazing swifts!  You hold the record for the longest bird flight, living in the air for ten months!  Before coming here to build your nests on the north side of an old Soviet Hangar, cool and protected. 

Do me a favor, stay in the air, or at least up on a wire, because you are stumbling drunkards on the earth.  Without fear but easy pray for hawks and careless soldiers’ feet.      

I thought I heard Bruce Springsteen,

but it was you singing,
“Baby we were born to fly.” 
Because you are undoubtedly
part of the sky.

4/12/18

Afghanistan



Bruce Springsteen, "Born to Run"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3t9SfrfDZM