Rare Birds

I scarcely know the questions to
The answers of the universe
But do the best I know to do
And I believe I could do worse
Because I have and might again

I keep growing despite the pain
Of believing but not knowing
Hoping not to believe in vain
Even as my doubts are showing
Even now that I feel insane

Believing in keeping going
The only thing to do I know
Is seek the beautiful and true
Till I am gone and vow to go
To find them as I search for you

Whoever you are waiting there
To learn to fly again midair
Like me accompanied only
By shared unanswered questions of
Life and death and between them love

Maybe (like me) you are lonely
Even if you have lots of friends
Since it seems not enough to be
The means to justify the ends
Of others (if you feel like me)

Just let them watch as they see two
Rare birds escape captivity
And if we fly separate ways
We fly in freedom all our days
To find our own reality

Outside the aviary now
So rare in fact we disappear
If other birds should wonder how
We did it let them look up here
Where there are only stars to see

As wondering they wonder more
What is the aviary for:
To let us out or keep us in?
The aviary of the mind
Is best escaped and left behind

Let transcendental flight begin
And may it never cease
Since only the escapees win
Rare birds who sang of peace
And got away with it somehow

+Steven Curtis Lance



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