Sonnet on a Fledgling

Growth is rarely a linear, comfortable journey. Often, the spaces that once nurtured and protected us eventually begin to feel small and hollow. We find ourselves standing on the edge of the familiar, looking out at an unmapped terrain that terrifies us, even as it calls to us.

Sonnet on a Fledgling

The sheltered nest is safe in Douglas fir,
Where hollow routine rules and shadows play;
But shifting currents make the seasons stir,
To change the comfort of a summer day.
I hide in grass to heal beneath bright sun,
And watch the filtered light fall through the tree,
For ease is brief, and I am far from done;
A bigger sky awaits this fledgling me.
Upon the edge, unsteady and distressed,
I take my first steps on a path untried;
The branch is daunting, but within my chest,
An unexpected strength becomes my guide.
  I test the wind and spread my bold blue wings,
  To leave behind the weight of older things.

Closing Note: Catching the Wind

Composed September 17, 2026, in Shakespearean (English) sonnet structure, while I was sitting in a quiet place, under low light, sipping wine. Updated October 5, 2026.