The Soul

The soul is a feathered thing
residing in a golden cage
the body.

It must be fed with gentle hands
and watered with aqua vitae

Sometimes it dips its warm head
into its water dish
and dances about
shaking the droplets from
its soft feathers.

Rarely does it jump about
eager to leave its cage
and we must coo and whisper
and we must nourish and play
until it is calm again.

When the cage door opens
the feathered thing hesitates
only for a second
before it learns
how to fly again.

And it flies and flies
until it is wounded and tired
and must find another golden cage
to rest in.