Ancestor

Having been pushed
so many times
as far onto a ledge
as I can go
without hurtling off into 
the quick void before
the dead Void,

I have learned
how to wrap my toes
so tightly onto stone
that I could break it apart
through stubborn will 
alone; 

learned a little about how
to reach back into evolution
and summon an ancestor,
an animal I need
to help me survive: this is why

as you face me you feel fear
in spite of your apparent victory
when you see I have been pushed
as far as possible, when you see my
yellowing eyes, when you feel 
the ground crack beneath you
and talons in your arm —

ah, I can see
that you see 
my sudden wings.