NDE

You've stayed awake 
for practice, gathered
strange soil on the souls
of your feet.

Kept your head tilted
back, fixated on ceiling
as it moved above you. 

Everything else

the swirling, beautiful
bodies, their thrashing, 
desperate dances, 

the rise and fall

of their songs, the shine
of their outstretched wings
were only distraction.  

Not yet the journey but
certainly travelling.