Sun Fried..

Her wings were singed
the smell of burnt feathers
lingered for a long time
her maiden flight was too early
she peaked too soon
other attempts were made
but her confidence crushed
replaced by searing self doubt
enabled her to
manage airborne flight briefly
but then panic would set in
and she beating a hasty retreat to
the familiarity of her nest
failed once again

After a time she stopped trying to fly altogether
became landlocked dragging her reassuring
chains growing sleek and smug
always aware of
a niggling irritation
a dissatisfaction
emerging
like a virulent weed
robbing her of peace

She is driven to taking the flight
again
If she flies too close this time
she knows how to self immolate into
a whirling fireball flying through
the cosmos unlike poor Icarus
who fell plop straight into the sea
For all this time she had been misinformed
There is and was never anything to lose