Cruel

awful scene

The devastation was total

 a macabre

pot pourri of 

her young

the lucky ones

didn't see it coming

couldn't have

mother stood 

at the roadside

Her keening

piercing my soul

the perpetrator

of the wickedness

still present

seemingly unperturbed

by the carnage

all around

I did not bid usual

good wishes 

to this murderer

whose onyx beak 

bore blood and 

broken shell 

clues to the crime 

Author's Note

I saw a magpie raid on a tiny birds nest in my tree. The nesting pair showed great courage in trying to fend off the much bigger predator but it was useless. The magpie raid devastated the nest that I was watching for weeks.

Reviews

[Celestial Jester]

Love it. Nature can be cruel and indifferent. Good thing we have guns :D

[Tony Jordan]

We have better than that - we have words !
xD
Thank you for 'loving it' (mmm...now I want a burgerfor some reason) CJ.

[boobalajcushion]

This is so beautiful, the thing I love about poetry is the interpretations. I first read this thinking of a heart being picked apart (perhaps purely because I just proof read my own poetry about bitter hearts aha) but then I read your note at the bottom & read the poem again. I love the way you write and the words you've used. Makes it so visual!

[Troubled Robin]

I can't help but to keep rereading this. The flow appeals me, the story is clear, the word choice is well done. I simply find myself reading this over and over.

[A.J.T]

Definitely a captivating piece of morbid poetry. Nice work

[Black Rose]

Another masterpiece! Though it's a poignant one but the way you expressed its spellbound :).

[andrew mitchell]

the balance of nature is a real b***h, someone has to go, someone will get hurt, someone will cry.

[andrew mitchell]

this is where you come in tony with the sniper rifle and the maggie in your sights, you failed in this task!!

[Tony Jordan]

sh*t - sorry matey. Any more ammo?

[ROSALIND]

Brilliant piece of writing

[alanwgraham]

Great description of this little corner of nature. It seems cruel to us but this is how nature is and we can't and shouldn't impose our perspective on it.
Alan

[Norman 223]

"Nature red in tooth and claw", described here so well, Tony.
Cats and magpies are also the scourge in our garden. They seem to know when the fledglings are about to leave the safety of the nesting boxes and we mere mortals cannot protect them.