Birds tense with bated breath
rev their engines as the cage
begins to unlock; key turning
with accelerated languidness.

Wings fluttering against the bars,
as they chirp murmured whispers
of freedom, their fantasies full of
“When I get out”—no more concerned
about whether or not the question was
“if” or “when”.

And missing friends sit on the sands
of beaches opposite,
dangling their feet in tide pools
and enjoying the crisp ignorance
of others’ worry.

[It’s too far to swim, and they’re
too far gone to come back]