Little Red Balloon

I am usually natural,

only find myself in

nature,

but if I were synthetic

right now,

I’d be a

little red balloon

filled with helium

with a long white

ribbon attached

on a

blue-sky,

white-cumulous

sort of day.

I am light

for once

and colorful,

rising

rising

toward

the light

sneaking away

from an old life

happiness

and hope,

not helium,

lifting me

up

lifting me

away.

I have been here before

but each time been stopped

because of that long

white ribbon,

usually caught by

another who pulls me

back down,

but also by

the brick of guilt

attached to me.

Then my hope

of freedom

deflates

again.

Again I am on that

upward ascent.

Please, God,

don’t let anyone

catch the ribbon,

please give me the

courage to cut

my own tether

to that brick

that shackles me

to this spot.

For my heart is this

little red…