FLIGHT

 Clear blue skies
Wreathed with heavy gray water
languidly glide over a frozen moment in time

The cicadas take a breath
the crunching leaves underfoot lay quiet
all of the sun baked forest waits in anticipation

Young eyes stare wide
at the green prismatic orbs staring back
breath stills in a throat

black and yellow bodies stand poised
the home is disturbed
the queen at risk
only one option is at hand

The moment in time is shattered as the forest erupts in sound once more
booted feet pound the leaf laden soil
the zip of coordinated wings are close behind

Trees ever shifting make way for the form flailing beneath them
branches caressing the scene
making the smallest of impressions

burning pinpricks encourage the sprint
the yellow and black bodies with the green orbs dive again and again
some rise again to dive once more, but some change form, under the arms of their charge

the sprint becomes more
faster and further
further and faster

such a distance from the scene that a moment ago held the entire worlds breath

reason abated
drive remaining
both move onward as they must

in  time all stop
energy but spent

the home is safe
the pain is less

and calm can come

the cicadas sing

and rain pours from a clear blue sky