The first time she inhaled fresh air was overwhelming

she almost stopped breathing   yet

she continued inhaling the sweet air redolent

with the promise of verdant spaces   crawling life

she was so frail what few feathers she had

fell out making lazy twirls in the dust motes

she slept breathed  breathed and slept   her porous

bones recovering from laying egg after stolen egg

one day the promise of grass dirt and sun were too enticing

she finally stood - a thin dancer lost in her equilibrium

dancing past memories of stacked cages   ammonia laden air

deceased friends  she moved ahead   parting the speckled light

letting the sun shine on her for the first time

Sarah Undefeated

-Nancy Correa