I held a bird in my hand

Palms cupped together

Fingers interlaced

While he shivered

Heart beating faster

Almost throbbing

As instinct fought to free him

From the cage

--No matter how gentle--

He found himself in.

I opened my hands

And he took to the sky

A jagged bullet

Outline clear against

The ethereal blue

As nature prevailed

Over tentative nurture

And his wings beat faster

Than his heart.