Taking flight

I am standing on the edge of a cliff that overlooks a meadow.  The grass below me stretches out across the valley floor like a golden yellow carpet.  I can feel the wind rushing up from below, blowing my hair back.  I close my eyes, inhale deeply and feel the warm sunshine on my face.  I can't help but to smile as I bounce on my toes...once, twice and once more.  Stretching my arms out, I throw back my head and jump from the cliff.  I plummet towards the valley floor, the air cold and crisp, making my eyes sting and prick.  I pull my arms close to my body and fall faster still.  Bending my back ever so slightly and stretching out my arms once again, I skim across the top of the grass.  I bend slightly again, gaining just enough altitude to no longer touch the grass below me.  There is a wooded area coming closer but I don't worry.  I am experienced enough to either fly over the trees or through them without harm.  Today I chose to fly through them.  Out of the sunshine and into the shadows, I twist and turn my body, holding my arms close to me.  Sometimes, I reach out and touch the bark of a tree as I soar past.  I can smell the sun even here, along with the dusky odor of the earth.  I break through the trees into the bright sunshine again and arch my back to begin my upward climb into the sky.  The wind rushes past me, cleansing me of all my doubts and pain, imagined or real.  I laugh as I spiral higher and higher into the sky.  I lean slightly, leveling out my flight.  Twisting, I fly with my face to the sky, the earth at my back.  Arching back, I do a series of loops through the air.  Flipping over, I scan the area below me. I have no where that I need to be, so I can stay airborn as long as my energy allows.  I am now over a canyon.  I descend slightly and ride the thermals.  I coast on the warm air as it rises, dipping as the temperature drops to rise on the air once again.  There are hawks and ravens and buzzards, graceful and free riding these same thermals.  The raptors are curious and drift towards me.  I am not afraid; they are brethren, my kin.  Drifting and soaring, we dance through the air.  It is peaceful even as the hunters drop down to catch prey.  I bank slightly to leave the thermals and begin to climb again.  Higher and higher I soar, the air becomes colder and thinner.  It is harder to breath but still I climb.  I am in clouds, the moisture of the water droplets coat me, soaking me.  I feel like my my lungs will burst but I climb until I break through to the tops of the clouds.  The sunlight is so intense, blinding...my skin warms and moisture from the clouds dries...and still I climb. 

I can't breathe, my lungs are fighting for air...my heart is pounding, I hear it in my ears...I lose consciousness.  It can't have been for long, I am still in freefall when I come to.  I can't control my descent, I am falling back through the clouds.  I pushed too far.  I am spinning and if I don't gain control again, this will not end well.  I am spinning so fast that I am in danger of passing out again...I spread my arms and legs to slow the spinning.  Out of the clouds I hurl towards the earth but I am in control now.  I am still spinning but I enjoy the sensation.  I lean my body forward and suddenly I am spiralling headfirst towards the earth; arms tight against my body and legs crossed at the ankles. I arch and I am streaking across the sky, spiralling.  I am the wind, I am the air...I whoop with the pure pleasure of living, adrenaline courses through me.  I stretch out my arms and stop spinning.  I descend from the air and struggle to get my feet under me...I never have been able to land.  My feet hit the ground, but I am still traveling too fast and tumble head over feet.  This is not a controlled roll, but at least I'm not tumbling off a cliff..I hope.  I am stopped by a large tree.  That'll cause a bruise.  As I lay panting, I gaze up into the sky.  I long to escape the confines of gravity once again but know that my energy levels will not allow prolonged flight...I could glide at best right now.  I slowly stand and begin walking...I don't worry about where I may be...I always find my way home.  This is, after all, a dream.  And slowly, as I walk through the woods listening to the wind in the trees, I wake....