Homemade Kite for My Daughter

I made it out of clothes-hanger wire
and wrapping paper. The string
came from two balloons we'd left
hiding in a corner of the ceiling.
For more string, I used thread, it
was all I had. Then we took it outside.

I pulled it against the wind and let it go.
It stayed just above head-level
and jumped left and right. It dove
at the ground and back up. It tuned
backwards and inside out. Once
it jumped up higher than the house
and crashed hard into the grass.
It was like something that never
wanted to be born. It raged against
the line until the thread snapped, then
it fell easily to the ground.
The paper was torn, the glue and tape
gave. It was clearly done. This
was like many moments in life.
I took it in and set it aside, grateful.