The first days with the flaming sword, I swore
I’d break my arms, or burn my fingertips.
My palms were blistered. Skin came off in strips.
At sunset I’d be weary to the core.
And now I can, with joyful spirit, tell
How when my widespread wings were newly fledged
I lost control, and ended my flight wedged
Inside a cliffside crack (from which I fell!)
In time I learned to better wield my sword
And not set light to quite so many trees.
I fly for days on end with grace and ease.
And doing these things well, I please the LORD.
(But I confess – His pleasure’s just a part
Of my delight in mastering my art.)<\/p>\n
Written for Teresa Nielsen Hayden at the beginning of a new job, and posted on Making Light<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The first days with the flaming sword, I sworeI’d break my arms, or burn my fingertips.My palms were blistered. Skin came off in strips.At sunset I’d be weary to the core.And now I can, with joyful spirit, tellHow when my widespread wings were newly fledgedI lost control, and ended my flight wedgedInside a cliffside crack … Continue reading On beginning<\/span>