That Element Of Sky........ Poem by RIC BASTASA

you have roots
and you too belong
in this connection
to the ground,
do not claim much
as you are air,
for it is only a
part of you,
mixed, earth, sky,
fire, stone,
river, wind, you
are all these.
in this land of
compromises and
price and mercies,
learn this art of
living, learn to survive
until the right time
comes, when you shall
rise like smoke,
when you leave your
shoes on the stairs,
when you shall take
with fervor,
that element of sky.