A Tale Of Two Hawks

... for a world in balance...

A TALE OF TWO HAWKS

The blue, cloudless sky 

breathes in summer air, 

exhaling green fields 

with an ocean of red poppies. 

All the while two hawks soar, 

conversing in nature speak

about the river’s white water wetness 

and the way it influences trees 

with its constant motion. 

They screech with the affection of wind blown, 

smooth feathers.

^^^O^^^

There used to be a path, 

hidden to many, 

but well worn by our curious feet, 

leading from the river, 

through the poppy field, 

to the aspen line 

that marked the beginning 

of the mountain’s terrain. 

It was here 

we would often spread our blanket, 

remove our hindering clothing, 

and lay, looking at the sky 

and the hawks as they soared. 

Cuddling in our nakedness, 

enjoying the air on our skin, 

we would sing our ancestors songs; 

the songs of the beauty above us 

and the beauty below.

^^^O^^^

This was very long ago.

^^^O^^^

It was here, 

laying naked side by side, 

we saw one of the hawks 

suddenly drop from the sky. 

And you said, “I must go now. 

We must cease to be.” 

Noooo! 

Don’t go. 

Stay with me, please. 

But you explained, 

“Remember, my love, 

if one falls, 

one of us must take its place. 

I must soar and keep the balance; 

the beauty above and below.” 

I tried to hold you, 

to keep you by my side, 

but you were too strong in the transformation 

and soared to meet your fate. 

As I looked skyward 

all I could think and say, 

“But what about me? 

But what about me?”

^^^O^^^

And for eons I have roamed, 

seeing only desolation, 

hearing only cries, 

having no feeling, 

no hope. 

While all around the balance remains. 

Beauty above, 

beauty below.

^^^O^^^

Today though 

I thought I heard you call, 

“screech, screech, caw”, 

and felt the urge to find the river 

and poppy field, 

to travel our old worn path. 

But it has been so long ago 

and I fear it is gone, 

devoured by hungry time. 

As I walked the river’s edge, 

I saw the path begin. 

While overgrown with thick green 

and the reddest red poppies, 

I could see enough to follow its course. 

As I removed my clothes 

and lay down on our spot, 

overhead appeared a lone hawk. 

You soared as you spoke, 

“Where have you been? 

You silly man. 

Don’t you know you are my fate? 

You have always been the air that I breathe, 

the softness of my skin. 

Did you forget you must join me? 

Come, my love, 

soar, 

fly, 

make the world whole again. 

Together, we will regain the balance. 

The beauty above and below.”

^^^O^^^

If you happen to find the path 

and spot where we once lay, 

look up 

and if you are lucky and “fated” so, 

you may see us circle and soar, 

see two hawks riding the summer air. 

And if you look closely, 

you may see them smile, 

a hawk smile, 

spreading beauty above and below.

~~redzone 5.22.09  

Author's Note

captcha: wieldy

I love this chant and while it is more because of my wolf spirit that I am using it even though the poem relates to the hawk spirit.. enjoy

Reviews

[Lyn Anderson]

This is really beautiful, with all its grand imagery, and a spectacular spiritual feel. Of course you can smack me, but it should be lying naked not laying -- I think we had this discussion before and some sort of thing you don't like the sound of lying -- it's ok, you can just claim poetic license.

[barleygirl]

WOW! WOW! And WOW! I feel like I just dropped out of the sky in the midst of this amazing aerial journey, where I could see & feel & absorb all the magic & heart that's packed into this story-in-a-poem. The opening stanza is stunning in it's cinematography. The recurring red poppies are special & symbolic. The getting naked & lying on the blanket motif is one of my favorites, conjuring up many true memories from thru-out my life. There are too many awesome images & feelings to convey here. I feel like the one who ends up having to fly . . . leaving other loved ones behind at times, most times . . . this is how it's been all my life. You've written my life in an allegory here. But instead of having the harshness of such true memories of loss & separation, I'm filled with a mind-blowing amount of grace & hope . . . reinforcing the idea I've always had that life is what it is . . . harsh or not is only how we choose to view it . . . even right now, wondering what happened to my kitty for the past 2 days, I'm sad, but I'm also thinking of offering a spectacular life to my next kitty, however it may come into my life. This continuation (if we choose to perceive it that way) is exactly what I'm getting from your poem here. We all come back around in circles & spirals of inter-connectedness (if we choose to perceive it). This is totally & unquestionably my favorite of all your poems I've read so far. Thanks so much for pointing me to it (((HUGS)))

[Honey-Bee]

Beautiful imaging in this poem! I totally felt like I was a part of this poem lying in the fields and then flying. Incredible!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

wow, this is sadly beautiful....one dies the other soars higher...and sooner or later they are once again joined in that blue heaven of a sky.

i felt when i was reading this...it was from above looking down at the ground, soaring myself.

[redzone]

This was a special poem for me so I'm very glad you found it enjoyable... hmmm so that was you I saw floating up there earlier..cool. I've always imagined this place to be somewhere in Montana. One day I might try and find it. Thanks again Jacob

[Frieda P]

You captured my heart and soul with that first stanza, speechless really, there are no words to convey how affecting this is Curt...sigh, I adore this stunning piece of art. xo

10000000/100

[redzone]

Frieda, your comment means a lot to me. This is a poem that actually came to me as I was falling asleep. I didn't want to loose its thread so got up and started writing. It was amazing where my pen took me. I could actually see this red poppy field, the tree line and the hawks. It was probably all just a dream but... never told anyone about this til now. You and whoever else reads this note to you will know a redzone secret. But really Frieda knowing you found this poem enjoyable, that it captured your heart, makes my heart beat with laughter.. xo ;0) ~~redzone

[redflutterby]

This is breathtaking Red...magnificent beyond compare!! It made my heart soar like those two hawks...my spirit fluttered inside. I'm deeply moved by this story and your lovely soul. Amazing.... ;-)

[redzone]

Hi Red you left a wonderful comment and I am just happy you read. This poem is one of my favorites. This makes your reading and comment special since you enjoyed it, thank you

[Sami Khalil]

A wolf spirit but a soaring hawk mind and imagination. Now that is what I'm talking about...This was wonderful...:)..............

[redzone]

Thanks Sami, I think sometimes my "spirits" get confused.. have identity crisis or something... then my imagination runs wild... lol thanks again Sami

[Sami Khalil]

Hahaha...You are welcome...:)..................