Hawk (with acknowledgements to 'Snake' by D.H.Lawrence and a nod...

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A Sparrow-hawk came to my Alder tree
On a cold, cold day,
And I for warmth beside my window looking out,
To hunt there.

In the dark, winter-bare and swaying branches,
Her buff, brown-barred breast feathers ruffling
She perched, and I could only watch and wait, for she was queen.

Against the gnarled and knotted trunk she posed,
Her glances golden-eyed and keen she cast, into the feeding tables and the granite birdbath.
Black-beaked and taloned, yellow clawed, her ambush set
She balanced with her broad square tail and waited
Silently.

She graced my winter garden with her presence,
And I, like her loyal subject,
Could only watch.

Honoured I felt, and awed
That worthy she should find my ill-kempt plot.
I hardly dared to breathe
For fear she would take fright and choose to leave.

Though still I held, unmoving and entranced,
A sudden sound close by disturbed my guest.
On silent earth-brown wings she lofted up
Into the pink-hued sky.

How deeply, with her leaving, did I feel a sense of loss,
Wishing she’d return
But feeling at the same time priv’leged, and yet cursed
By noisy neighbours.

I later smiled at bright and busy finches choosing seed,
So unaware how close they came to death,
And pondered on my altered sense of values.

• 22 Apr, 2020
• 6 likes

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