At Long Last

One unforced breath rises
From toes to roots.
Birds on water,
Birds in air,
An implausibly gaudy periwinkle and lavender cloud-sky
Reiterated by the sea,
And the pewter-abalone twinkling
Of one broad stepping-stone
To incipient glory -
Oh, how very fine it is
To feel
At long last
Safe and worthy and free.