I was born in a clearing near a lake
my earliest memories are but little of that time
or maybe
it's that i don't want to remember
I still remember from the back of my mind
our nest under
the apple tree
and
the cedar and the oaks
my mother
pointing a wing
at
the lake
I knew i was different
I knew the moment
I popped out of my prison
I tripped while my brothers
and sisters
gracefully assended the water
I remember my brother Lucifer
and how he bullied me
and how everyone laughed
at HIS antics
and scowled upon mine
even mother
I left the clearing during the days of coldness
I remember the frost
and wind
and shivering
it was oh so cold!
I remember how i met a kind farmer
but
his children
laughed at me
and threw me out
into
the cold
I remember him coming out
late at night
and feeding me
after his children slept
and he said
"fly hight little one"
and so i left
into the cold
I don't remember much else
after that
except for the numbness
that started
from the tip of my webbed feet
to my beak
so i closed my eyes
I remember opening my eyes
and seeing
a patch of green
in the corner of my eye
and turning
to see
spring had invaded winter
I saw
the lake where i grew up
and these three beautiful creatures
in the middle surrounded by everyone
even Lucifer
I got up
and i knew i wanted to meet them
even if i died
I was going to get up
and swim towards them
and so
I swam
shyly
towards
them
but
to my suprise
they didn't kill me
THEY WELCOMED ME
with open arms
I looked down at the water
and saw four swans
instead of three
and
I knew
I
finally
belonged
happily ever after
*moosie*
