Learning to Fly

November 7, 2005

I had taken my child
to a near-by city park
to fly her new kite
before encroaching dark;
but the reluctant kite,
caught in a dearth
of summer air lay there,
as if glued to the earth.
"You cannot fly your kite
when there is no wind," I said.
"It is useless to try
when the wind is still."
But something stronger
than reason ran her ahead
up the greening slope
of a hopeful hill.
The wind "that wasn't there"
took over her kite
and flew it gently
almost out of sight.