the sky was there
distorted at the edges
but there
clear crystal blue
his wings burned
his mind locked
he battled the Plexiglas sky
over and again
his head bumped
hoping
for an improbable escape
I was afraid
his death
would stain my hands
like black pitch
I saw his obsession
lying to his wings
each invisible beat
bringing him closer
his truth needed to be told
the sky needed to lie
it was up to me
to eclipse the sun
transform
his reality
to a phosphorescent bullet
shooting out
into a summer day
G Michael Smith is a poet, a novelist and children’s book author. He has a BA in Psychology, English and Creative Writing and a professional teaching degree from the University of British Columbia. He has a Masters of Arts degree from San Diego State University. He has written four science fiction novels in The Forevers series all featuring a young female protagonist; mid-grade novel titled “Hijacked – A Beechwood Adventure”; written and illustrated three children’s books titled “The Accidental Adventures of Bernie the Banana Slug”, “Lily Liar and the Eleventy Headed Monster” and “Tiny Tina and the Terrible Trouble”. Website – https://gmsmithbooks.ca.