“The Shibari Series”, Part 6, ‘Submisson’

“Sea Eagle”, jane kohut-bartels, watercolor, 2001

 

 

I remained in the mews for my fall back to earth broke my wing.  The cage was large, one I shared with a goshawk A bird only allowed to a Master Falconer.

 

One day the Falconer claimed me from my perch, set me on his glove and launched me.  This time I had no tether and made my escape. Screaming into the wind, I climbed high until he and the hated glove were invisible.  I flew with the currents, my eyes bright with freedom.

 

Suddenly I was changing, feathers dropping from my breast and wings.  I spiraled, awkward in my descent, landing by the same brook once choked with winter’s ice. Instead of talons I had a woman’s legs and slowly my feathers molted leaving me naked, shivering, my limbs white as the remaining snow peppering the early crocuses. My cry now a sob instead of a hawk’s high shriek.

 

Instinct made me start at the sound of the hunting call and there was the Falconer, a blanket in his hands. He took his rights, my cooing not of doves.  Later, collared in steel with long jesses I walked behind his horse.

 

Jane Kohut-Bartels

Copyrighted, 2017

 

 

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