I stood as ever stood, my head bent o’er.
My long suffering twin stared back in silence.
Above, a mechanical bid drenched the senses.
It was ever thus.
As the din receded for a moment,
My twin twitched; she fluttered her virtual wings
And spoke from her watery heart.
“Master Crane, for decades you and I have
Drunk together, froze together, endured together.
Today, I set you free.”
My wings fluttered, my metallic frame grew soft with down
My legs stretched, my toes stirred,
Nothing had prepared me
But I knew my destiny.
I stood, as never stood, my head alert.
The herd of deer, the laughing girls, the quarrelling men.
I preened as never preened, my heart in bloom.
The wearied mums, the dashing kids, the brimming shops.
I flew as never flew, my eyes so bright.
The dashing waves, the endless sea, the fretful gulls.
I reached as never reached, my lungs on fire.
The bullet train, the temples stone, the paddies green.
I soared as never soared, my life reborn.
The islands green, the fishers dots, the cirrus soft.
I climbed as never climbed but hopes were crushed.
Those hideous birds, their engines black, their windows closed.
I wept as never wept, my tears in streams,
And cursed my twin who set me free.