Attack.

 

 

As sinks the cherry-plum sun
a hawk
unleashes his fire
and over naked-elm hill dives,
plume-tight,
!
!
!
straight downwards,
hangs in still air momentarily
wide-eyed and loose clawed
raptor then crashes
*!*
into a lone sparrow's chatter,
writing death warrant
**!**
*.*
*
in whitening dusk.

^^^^^^

^^^^
Weight of sudden attack
met success with 
feathered explosion from
battle-high rush
of pitched buckle surprise.

* "" *
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 

Grieving the slain I then spy
on moth-night's
distant and darkling horizon
a mate
~ - 0> almost stationary

in the ether

 - -- -  perhaps waiting 

for brood's late feed
she, snatching bait in what
seems frenzy
quickly shoots tree-ward
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

before dark blackens sky

to ebony crystal.

 

 As sinks the cherry-plum sun

I admit 
that for chicks to exist 
hunger has to be sated and 
hawk's display,

!

!
by accurate awesome speed 
of nature's raw
beauty invites recognition 
for such fearless skill.

~  ~  ~

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"fearless skill" necessary kill to survive.
not hunting for sport but for survival.
i like the way the point of view switches in this...being down on the hawk at the beginning, feeling sorry for the victim..but then we get the understanding of why....that is question not asked or answered enough these days....Why?
what is behind actions? i like the allegory aspect of this...we are quick to judge others before we know the facts or reasons.
well done,
j.

[Fay Slimm]

Your thoughtfully considered and instructive review of Attack has made my day - -thank you so much jacob. I am delighted that you caught the allegoric message in the finalé too.

[barleygirl]

I find your various typesetting flairs subtle & interesting, not overdone or distracting. You do a great job of immersing your readers into this scene. I notice that there's an undercurrent of judgment, as if the hawk's behavior must be justified. Having lived in wilderness half my life, I don't think of it that way. There will always be winners & losers . . . it's a waste of time to have an emotional reaction to nature . . . . just put away our edicts & admire the balance. I don't mean this to denounce your poem. Most people feel the way you do, so this is very relatable. Most people would find me to be pretty tough & unfeeling about life & death in the natural scheme of things! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie