Heather Gil

On the edge of greatness and failure, fear chokes me.
Mama bird chirps for me to fly.
But I see my brother on the floor.
To flap my wings in the clear blue sky,
chasing the setting sun,
it is everything I want.

But the worms didn’t take my brother yet.
The dirt didn’t say hello to him.
The blood is dry but still fresh.
Humans didn’t discard him.
There is still some life in his eyes,
but no way to end it all.

The breeze is colder.
My family has left me.
I’m still on the edge
of greatness and fear.
The burning in my throat
can’t keep holding me.
The sight of my brother
can’t keep taunting me.

The burning sun and clear skies,
I still yearn for that feeling.
To know how it feels
to fly.

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Heather Gil is a writing major who works full-time with kids. She has been published in The Laconic, Northampton Community College’s literary and arts journal. She hopes to make her hobby into a career, even if it is part-time.