shimmering birds your reckless

 flight to the high zone to soar

ever closer carefree in your naïveté

 you bathe in soothing warmth

until you reach the fry zone

where lustre of feather frazzles to gilt

your wings flap frantic

until they cease to exist

then no thermal can offer a cloud

to uplift or shelter from fiery heat

and like autumn leaves

so golden you fall