The bird in the study window

was looking at me.

Staring at me

when it thought I could not see it.

As I passed the window

on my way to bed

I swear I saw it shake its head.

I swear I saw its brown eyes

fill with a soft sadness.

I knelt beside it

at daybreak

but it did not meet my gaze.

Yet as I turned to leave

I heard a raspy whisper.

“Libre! Libre!"

I heard it say.

"Let your troubles

float into the wind

and fly

away, away.”

The bird blinked twice,

and the glass between us

was no more.

I tumbled out of the window,

sure I was falling to my death.

But when I opened my eyes,

the sight made

me catch my breath.

I was soaring over a meadow

a sea of bees and wildflowers

and a moment later over the sea

a meadow of salt and seagrass.

I passed over the city,

with streetlights that flickered like stars.

Then I flew up into the clouds,

to the stars that glowed like streetlights.

I rode on the back

of a majestic bird,

its wings beating like drums

beside me.

I tasted moonlight on my tongue.

A giddy laugh

escaped my mouth

as the wind rushed

through my lungs.

When I awoke

the next morning,

I was snug inside my bed.

Had the wondrous events

of the night

all been inside my head?

Yet as I passed the study window,

feeling utterly beguiled,

I saw the bird looking at me,

and I swear I saw it smile.