A poem for Ascension Day

Ascending

To cast off weight, to hollow

out bones, to bend her

voice higher

reaching

she has strength enough for that

for pushing the feathers out

to force the unexpected notes

up through her throat

she is coming down

to what she has left

she is discovering sound -

coos and trills -

body as flute

nothing

will hold her long

she could rise

as easily as dust.