Once Upon A Death

On a distant mountain
There climbed a girl
Not quite yet woman
She watched and waited  
For rocks to quit tumbling down
Before she took her cue
Fearless in her climb
Of a few impatient years
Too eager to know any better
Unprepared for the inevitable fall
When its plates shifted
Her grip began to slip
Cramping her fingers  
Until the pain was too much to bear
She finally let go and  
Embraced her death
 
Reborn when the time was right
And not a second sooner
Up she came, a woman now  
This time she chose  
An untroubled mountain  
No climbing necessary
Only paved welcoming paths
 
After a few decades at home
She realized this mountain didn’t have  
Any nooks and crannies for  
Spontaneous sprigs of life
Only birds flew by with wings
Strong enough to create seasons
She became envious of such power
Until one day a feather floated into her palm
And her blood began to vibrate
 
Unprepared for such a magical gift
It became her best friend
She used it to prick her fingers
And write on the mountainsides
About forgiveness and compassion
How it comes from unexpected places  
Like a bird's feather
The strength of love and kindness  
When blended together form  
Massive mountain ranges  
How failure, although painful
Is necessary to flourish
It guides you toward your destiny’s path
 
So many stories written in her blood
Each mountainside holding decades  
Of pulsing scriptures  
She didn’t notice her anemia
Too happy with her life’s blood work
Of characters and life lessons
Writing to the last beat of her heart
Squeezing out the last drop of ink
Until the veil came and lifted
Her breath into the sky
It swept up her feather too
And together they flew  
Throughout time
Toward mountain tops called life
 
So when on a difficult path  
Your bravery diminished
And find a lone feather  
On the ground
It’s her beside you  
Saving your life
Challenging you to  
Pick it up and write