The Golden Wings
By Yaqeen Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander
A bird that learnt to fly just not so high
Avoiding the dangers of unexplored sky
She was told she is no more
Than all others who are afraid to soar
But she was different from rest of the lot
It was pure freedom that she sought
She longed to make it to the pinnacle
And wondered of rising through a miracle
She wanted the endless vastness of the sky
Nobody believed in her, told her you will die
There was just one who once made that flight
He never came back and disappeared from sight
Breaking the shackles one day to spread her wings
She left to hear the melody that nature sings
She made the flight but lost her way
She took a fall and broke her wings that day
She couldn't fly home so made a choice
Downed at a new place just to rejoice
To her surprise, she found her alike
Another recluse bird, living in dislike
He found her lying down, injured and weary
Even though broken but no less than a fairy
He remembered his own old journey of exile
In her he saw his own reflection with a smile
Her fiery wings now felt fragile and cold
He fixed them gently with lacquered gold
With her unprecedented beauty, he fell in love
Counting her as a blessing, descending from above
He tried keeping her heart for himself in a jar
Forgetting travellers don't stay, they only go far
Her feathers were too bright to be caged
He couldn't contain the battle that inside him raged
Feeling the guilt, he set her free
Letting her continue the flying spree
She had to be light to go higher & further
To make a flight like there is no other
The day came and she took her chance
He stood there gazing, just for a glance
She didn't look back, neither did he move on
They say every dark night is followed by a dawn
He still awaits her return patiently on ground
She lives in the stars above that surround
She belongs to Galaxies and the Universe
Keeping her for one would be a curse
He knows she is somewhere happy out there
He just smiles and asks the heavens to take her care
The place now surely is drab without her presence
Even though everything sings of her essence
Everything beautiful in life, forever cannot be kept
Walking alone by the shore, he silently wept…
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Yaqeen Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander is from Kashmir, India. He graduated from International Islamic University Malaysia majoring in Psychology with a Theology minor. Currently, a Master’s student of Guidance & Counselling Psychology at Marmara University, he loves writing, camping, story-telling and philosophy. Working on his 3rd book now about self-help & spirituality which will be available by next year, he is also an aspiring novelist. He also runs a non-profit for Refugee Education & Youth Empowerment called ‘Inspire ME Global’. He can be reached at www.facebook.com/yaqeenulhaq or yaqeen@ymail.com