The First Libertine

I stepped out of my mortal shell
To seek a place that death can't quell
Amongst these lofty wuth'ring heights
Hidden from life's purgat'ry.

I saw a sky lark flutter by
And met his gaze in his mid fly,
I tried to match his flight and song
Though I lacked the wing or voice:

An Intermediary bird –
Pitying me he stopped a while
And lent his limbs and vocal chords:
So I matched his wayward flight
And sung a song in valleys bright.

I possessed mine own wings before
And Splendorous cherubim glow
I sung with angels yesterday
Till I sought joy in heathen things:

And then my heart turned scale embossed
My limbs turned frail then superfluous
I slithered once then slithered thence
Frivolous joy was my pretense.

But now, meek from decadence I sing
A whisp'ring of my former voice
A shadow of my prior self
With borrowed limbs and vocal chords

© Ephraim M Luwemba