pair of wings

I always wanted to fly,

staring through the windows

when the birds flew out of the guava tree,

or the pigeons gurgled in our neighbor's roof,

as if mocking my existence,

I always would shoo them away.

Then an idea struck me,

what if I could grow a pair of wings,

So I begged for some magic spells from my grand mom,

who could make the fever go away, or cure an upset stomach 

just by chanting some words into a pinch of salt.

She would pacify me by telling many stories but never gave away any magic spell.

My science books too didn't offer any help.

I also went to Ronto kaku, who had a penchant for machines. 

He did promise to make me a pair of wings

only if I study hard.

Time rolled on and I buried myself in books,

Ronto kaku also passed away and his promise remained unfulfilled.

Many years later, 

now when I see the pigeons fluttering around me, 

I don't feel mocked anymore, 

perhaps I realize now that I can never fly,

I was tied to the earth when I was born.