By: Kelly L. Miller

Black bird, beautiful black bird, take flight
Into the greyness of the nearest night
Through the blend of darkest ebony and lightest white
To the greatest of brand-new twinkling heights

Black bird, beautiful black bird, do you venture
To scope the universe or all of heaven’s wonders?
To soar out of our mortal reaches forever and ever?
To a realm where no injustice is ever suffered?

Black bird, beautiful black bird, take flight
Come out of the gloominess and into the bright
Break away from wrong and embrace all that is right
Shed your weaknesses and grow into an insurmountable might

Black bird, beautiful black bird, do you venture
Revisiting ancient history to reclaim some disillusioned paramour?
Into the distant future to capture another eager, younger, and lovelier?
Or to dwell alone but not forlorn, independent, emancipated, freer?

Bask in the rise and set of sunlight and climb clean out of sight
Glide through open atmosphere and recall all you hold dear
Not even the big blue beautiful limits thee, ascend spirit-like
Trek where the faint-hearted tread not, as they yield to infantile fears

Revenge and judgement be inconsequential, as enemies create their own plight
And you voyage to a land parallel of earth’s nether, escaping misery ever after
You fought with all your strength, and now life is so much better than just alright
Better than an artificial greener, where snakes slithered and menaced grave danger

Black bird, beautiful black bird, keep flying
Soar beyond earth’s outskirts to a seamless eternity
To a celestial vicinity of freedom, peace everlasting
Discovering an uncharted picture-perfect infinity

Black bird, beautiful black bird, keep flying
To where they judge you not by your shadowy outer painting
For where they deem you not wicked, simple, poorly, and dirty
To a warm-hearted welcoming, belonging, a grand homecoming