Kites Poem by Juan Olivarez

Kites fly high
Into the stratosphere
High among the clouds along with our avian friends

And yet
They are so fragile
Their lives subject to the wind
And the elements

After all
They are only paper, wood, and string
Not exactly concrete and steel

One momentThey are flying high
They are lying torn and broken on the ground
Or being ripped asunder
By trees or telephone wires

Such is a human heart
It soars to the heavens among the clouds
With Eagles and Larks
And the Angels on high

And yet is as fragile as a kite after all
It is only flesh and blood and sinew and skin
For like paper, wood and string
One moment it soars

And the next
It is lying torn and broken
Lying dying, on the ground
Or city sidewalk, or park bench

Pity the Human heart
So like a kite
So fragile and frail
yes so like a kite

3/2/2016
29 Palms Ca.