spreading feathers 
filling wings with wind’s blessing 
defying gravity  

the ultimate act of faith must be 
the belief you will be kept aloft 
above the dangers of cat and snake, 
that you will find a gently swaying 
branch, a bit of food and fluff 
for your brood. And all that, 
never having heard of  

the lilies of the field 
the birds of the air 
or even the mustard seed