Of Wings and Things

September 12th, 2004 admin Posted in Reviews |

French director, Jacques Perrin’s new movie, Winged Migration, is all about breathtaking shots. Shot after shot after shot. It is a journey through the continets, their landscapes, their vistas, their birds and the primeval urge in the birds to fly thousands of miles. For survival. At times the only sounds you hear, and the only sounds you really need in the movie, are the natural, rhythmic whiffs of the lonesome group of birds flapping their tired wings as they fly unwavering over mile after mile of ocean toward their invisible goal. The movie’s class is in the fact that you are so overwhelmed by the beauty of every frame, that you can easily forget the extraordinary camerawork, planning and execution that went into making this documentary.

I pencilled down a poem today that developed independent of the movie, but ended up being tied to a similar theme. I call the poem Wings! It is about realizing yourself, the limits you place on yourself, the expectations you have from yourself and freedom to redefine your limits and expectations. It is about you being in control of your life yet at the same time not being totally bound by that control. It is a theme particularly close to my heart.

Wings

Imagine I told you. You are profane.
You are in chains. You are a bane.

It’s not in you. Don’t bother dance.
Hide your face. There’s still a chance.

Just play it safe. Stick to the plot.
Do what you know. That is all you got.

Take your time. Don’t rush to the stage.
Don’t get excited. You are not the rage.

Strap on your seatbelt. You’re stuck to the ground.
The flight is ephemeral. Watch where you’re bound.

That is a lie. The truth is profound.
You do have wings. You aren’t bound.

It’s up to you. Take a chance.
Jump off the cliff. Come out of the trance.

Don’t play it safe. Give it a shot.
You do what you’ve done. You’ll get what you’ve got.

Don’t wait and pray. Get on the stage.
The story is stuck. Time to turn the page.

Unbuckle your seatbelt. You’ve been found.
Enjoy the flight. To wherever you’re bound.