Birdman

in spite of it all I shall take off from this hill

onlookers laugh so

for freedom and to spite them, I will

papier mache feathers, make-shift wooden bill

winds southerly blow

in spite of it all I shall take off from this hill

the crag, sharp, beneath is ready to kill

mocking me, the surf below

for freedom and to spite them, I will

calls from the sea birds are painfully shrill

determinedly I am ready to show

in spite of it all I shall take off from this hill

men frightened of failure are failing still

common sense screams that I can’t, don’t I know

for freedom and to spite them, I will

I swallow the sea air like a pill

I wonder when I take off how far I will go

in spite of it all I shall take off from this hill

for freedom and to spite them, I will