O at the Edges

Musings on poetry, language, perception, numbers, food, and anything else that slips through the cracks.

The Art of Flight

Posted on April 6, 2015 by robert okaji

The Art of Flight

What wings accumulate is not air
but space, an exemplar

of restraint defied. I listen
and hear feathers

ruffling in the shadows,
a vibration that swells

until it becomes flight or
regret, the retrieval of our

bodies from this dream of ascent.
The art of flight is one of

disturbance, of angles and lift
and touching what can’t be seen.

What we hold carries no meaning.
The beauty lies in the gathering.

72 thoughts on “The Art of Flight”

Sibylle Ingeborg Preuschat on April 6, 2015 at 10:26 am said:

Like so many of the poems of yours that I’ve read, this one offers many “let me read that again” moments… words that “catch” my mind, in the best possible way.

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2015 at 10:57 am said:
  
  Thank you, Sibylle. That’s what I hope for!
  
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athling2001 on April 6, 2015 at 10:39 am said:

Very nice. And such a good photo also.

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2015 at 10:58 am said:
  
  Thank you. The photos are from morguefiles.com.
  
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  - athling2001 on April 6, 2015 at 11:06 am said:
    
    You welcome. I’ll have to check out the site.
    
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  - booguloo on April 26, 2015 at 4:02 pm said:
    
    You might want to recognize http://www.morguefiles.com with your posts. They probably won’t mind using the pics but you never know. Just saying…. Smile
    
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    - robert okaji on April 26, 2015 at 4:09 pm said:
      
      Actually, one of the reasons I use morguefiles is because they specifically state no attribution is requested. But I appreciate your concern, especially in this day and age.
      
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      - booguloo on April 26, 2015 at 9:01 pm said:
        
        No prob and it’s good to be back.
        
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rayatdyslexiaunite on April 6, 2015 at 11:07 am said:

Hi Sibylie I like the feel of your open poetry. Best Wishes Ray

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roughghosts on April 6, 2015 at 11:56 am said:

Evocative!

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2015 at 12:05 pm said:
  
  Thank you.
  
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zacharybinks19 on April 6, 2015 at 12:04 pm said:

Really like the last couple of lines…

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2015 at 12:06 pm said:
  
  I’m so pleased they resonated with you. Thank you.
  
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B. J. Hollywood on April 6, 2015 at 12:58 pm said:

A very lovely addition to my day. Thanks, B. J.

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2015 at 1:24 pm said:
  
  And with your comment, to mine! Thank you.
  
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Erica Herd on April 6, 2015 at 1:51 pm said:

The last 2 lines are perfection.

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2015 at 3:26 pm said:
  
  You are very generous. Thank you!
  
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resoplayer on April 6, 2015 at 1:59 pm said:

… until it becomes flight or regret.
I would love to have known the Wright brothers and say, “Hey. Orville, and you too Wilbur. How about writing a poem for me about all that work you are doing down Kitty Hawk way?”
Enjoyed it!

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2015 at 3:28 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much!
  
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msayjay on April 6, 2015 at 3:18 pm said:

“The beauty lies in the gathering” I love this. Beautiful poem.

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2015 at 3:30 pm said:
  
  You are very kind. Thank you.
  
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lifelessons on April 6, 2015 at 5:40 pm said:

Lovely, lovely, Robert. I knew how much I loved it when I heard feathers ruffling in the shadows, but every line kept up this high standard. Judy

https://grieflessons.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/morning-dew-and-switcheroo-wordpress-daily-prompt-weds-napowrimo/

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2015 at 9:35 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Judy. I’m so pleased you liked it.
  
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lifelessons on April 6, 2015 at 5:43 pm said:

Reblogged this on lifelessons – a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown and commented:
This man is a fine poet, and this is my favorite of what I’ve read over the past two years. In my estimation, a perfect poem and so I must reblog!

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2015 at 9:35 pm said:
  
  I am grateful that you reblogged this. And thanks for your kind words.
  
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quirknjive on April 6, 2015 at 9:03 pm said:

What we hold carries no meaning.
The beauty lies in the gathering.
Wow-sometimes you read something that is so timely, so personally relevant… How deeply your words resonate. It is a pleasure to read your poetry. Thank you.

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2015 at 9:36 pm said:
  
  I’m so glad this worked for you.
  
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JC on April 6, 2015 at 10:00 pm said:

I love the last two lines, “What we hold carries no meaning.The beauty lies in the gathering.” It’s just beautiful when lines like that come together.

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- robert okaji on April 7, 2015 at 5:55 am said:
  
  I just wish I could figure out how to make it happen more often! Thank you.
  
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Ron on April 6, 2015 at 10:55 pm said:

Bob, this poem may well reside in college textbooks or anthologies someday! Incredible work…but why no shout out to Bernoulli ? *g*

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- robert okaji on April 7, 2015 at 5:57 am said:
  
  Ha! If I’d mentioned Bernoulli, then I’d have been compelled to mention Newton, not to mention Icarus, and it would have been way too long. 🙂
  
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  - Ron on April 7, 2015 at 6:53 am said:
    
    I wasn’t Sirius, of course, but I did play its companion star Sirius B on TV until I got too hot!
    
    🙂
    
    Obi Ron
    
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  - robert okaji on April 7, 2015 at 1:02 pm said:
    
    I can somehow picture you as a Dog Star.
    
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    - Ron on April 7, 2015 at 4:14 pm said:
      
      Well, Doggon! How you do talk!
      
      🙂
      
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Broken Lullabies on April 6, 2015 at 11:03 pm said:

I loved it❤ I felt that it could be interpreted in more than one way. Excellent writing 🙂

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- robert okaji on April 7, 2015 at 5:58 am said:
  
  My hope is that readers will find something for themselves in each poem. Thank you.
  
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  - Broken Lullabies on April 7, 2015 at 12:31 pm said:
    
    You’re very welcome❤
    
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garyhorvitz on April 6, 2015 at 11:33 pm said:

And to hold-anything-is to deny the unending flow of gathering.

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- robert okaji on April 7, 2015 at 6:00 am said:
  
  Indeed!
  
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Andreea Gutu on April 7, 2015 at 1:00 am said:

Wonderful! The beauty lies in the gathering..

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- robert okaji on April 7, 2015 at 6:01 am said:
  
  The gathering of minutes, of days and thoughts and sights…
  
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Diane on April 7, 2015 at 1:13 am said:

Reblogged this on confessions of a gypsy girl and commented:
Featured WordPress Poet of the Week: Lyrical, amazing. This is really good writing.

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- robert okaji on April 7, 2015 at 6:03 am said:
  
  Thank you for your kind comments and for reblogging.
  
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simonfalk28 on April 7, 2015 at 6:54 am said:

Great. The final two lines crown it so well.

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- robert okaji on April 7, 2015 at 1:03 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Simon.
  
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simonfalk28 on April 7, 2015 at 6:57 am said:

Reblogged this on Simon's still stanza and commented:
I find this poem fascinating. The final two lines bear much pondering.

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- robert okaji on April 7, 2015 at 1:03 pm said:
  
  Thanks for reblogging!
  
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  - simonfalk28 on April 7, 2015 at 6:47 pm said:
    
    You are welcome.
    
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Cate on April 7, 2015 at 8:12 am said:

This poem has me watching my chickens more closely and contemplating my own experience more carefully. Truly lovely, Robert. Thank you.

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- robert okaji on April 7, 2015 at 1:04 pm said:
  
  There’s much to be learned from chickens (and ants, stars, soil, wind, and on and on)!
  
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crowningshield on April 7, 2015 at 8:48 am said:

I love the soft spoken wishes that make me wonder why

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- robert okaji on April 7, 2015 at 1:05 pm said:
  
  The soft-spoken may well be louder in the end.
  
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  - crowningshield on April 8, 2015 at 12:00 pm said:
    
    they def. were
    
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jantaiwan on April 7, 2015 at 11:10 am said:

The beauty lies in the gathering. Indeed. Excellent work.

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- robert okaji on April 7, 2015 at 1:05 pm said:
  
  Thank you.
  
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Shell Ochsner on April 7, 2015 at 9:06 pm said:

I love this! And the photo compliments the poem.

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- robert okaji on April 8, 2015 at 1:35 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Shell. The photos seemed appropriate. I’m glad you think so, too. 🙂
  
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seemsdreams on April 9, 2015 at 8:33 am said:

‘The beauty lies in the gathering’. loved it.

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- robert okaji on April 10, 2015 at 8:19 am said:
  
  Thank you.
  
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imaginenewdesigns12 on April 9, 2015 at 10:08 pm said:

Thank you for liking “Happy April Fool’s Day.” Fantastic poem! 🙂 For me, this poem is a wonderful metaphor for the creation of art, which is the process of taking our experiences and knowledge and transforming it into something larger and more profound than ourselves. We may not always succeed in this lofty task, but when we do the results can be very uplifting.

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- robert okaji on April 10, 2015 at 8:20 am said:
  
  Thank you. I’m so pleased you found something in this poem.
  
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  - imaginenewdesigns12 on April 11, 2015 at 1:59 pm said:
    
    You are welcome. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. 🙂
    
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ASH on April 13, 2015 at 11:17 pm said:

REALLY liked this one.
Awesome (the way the word was meant)

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- robert okaji on April 14, 2015 at 5:53 am said:
  
  Thank you. I’m pleased you like it!
  
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storyfairy on April 14, 2015 at 3:21 pm said:

Beautiful! 🙂

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- robert okaji on April 14, 2015 at 3:32 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much!
  
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Kate on April 21, 2015 at 2:16 pm said:

As Elizabeth Bishop said, “For poetry, it’s not bad!”

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- robert okaji on April 21, 2015 at 2:20 pm said:
  
  A great quote! Thank you.
  
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booguloo on April 26, 2015 at 4:05 pm said:

Your work is as great as I remember.. Robert haven’t seen you for a while.. my fault though.. I’ve been hibernating. o/

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- robert okaji on April 26, 2015 at 4:09 pm said:
  
  Thank you, and welcome back!
  
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sriramjanak on May 6, 2015 at 9:05 pm said:

just beautiful…:-)

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- robert okaji on May 7, 2015 at 6:10 am said:
  
  Thanks very much.
  
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