Stand atop a canyon's wall  
Looking over the precipice's edge  
Gazing at the little river far below  
   
Then turn your eyes to the sky  
Watching the white clouds drift by  
Little birds dancing among them  
   
Your breath catches in your throat  
Pain blossoming where wings should be  
An ache gnawing deep in your heart....  
   
Force your gaze back to the ground  
Make yourself breathe once more  
And close your eyes against reality  
   
Call up the sights in your mind  
The canyon below, the sky above  
The wind blowing along your wings  
   
Step out to the canyon's edge  
And spread your wings out wide  
Take a breath, and then the plunge  
   
Listen to the air rush past your ears  
Feel the whistling wind sting your eyes  
Mind the ground you're plummeting towards  
   
So cup your wings and catch the air  
End your dive with but moments to spare  
Hear your wingbeats echo through the canyon  
   
Rise up out of the earth's deep chasm  
Climb until you can see to horizon's end  
Gaze at the majestic landscape below  
   
Rest in the wind's gentle embrace  
Silently soaring over the lovely vista  
Your eyes unwillingly closing....  
   
Reluctantly open them once more  
Find your feet firmly set on the ground  
The air still and quiet around you  
   
Drop suddenly to your knees  
Eyes burning as tears freely flow  
Mourn for wings that never were....