I WANT TO BE AN ALBATROSS

In this poem, “I Want To Be an Albatross,” an albatross is simply an albatross and not a metaphor for something else. I chose an albatross as the bird for this poem to somehow give glory to a bird generally considered to be big and ugly and which had been used metaphorically to reference a curse or burden.

“I Want to be an Albatross” 

I want to be an albatross and travel the land, 

Flying high, diving low,

Going across the waters,

Going as far as I can.

I want to be an albatross instead of a man.

I want to be an albatross and experience freedom,

Soaring here, sailing there,

Going where I wish,

Going as someone.

I want to be an albatross instead of a victim.

I want to be an albatross and make my own decisions,

Saying yes, replying no,

Going along if I desire

Going home as I envision.

I want to be an albatross instead of someone’s mission.

I want to be an albatross and sail more than the seven seas,

Shouting for joy, singing for praise,

Going through my thoughts

Going away from hypocrisy.

I want to be an albatross instead of their analyses.

I want to be an albatross and live life in good health,

Knowing right, knowing wrong,

Going forward from the closet,

Going upward on the shelf.

I want to be an albatross instead of being myself.

Written on October 13, 1993