I See Through

The Red-Tailed Hawk

In the still of the midwinter afternoon

Quietly observing the play of light across the sky

Crows cawing, getting closer, sounding shrill

There they are! Chasing a red-tailed hawk my way

The hawk lands in a maple tree in front of me

Staying low and trying to avoid the crow sentinels

I stay hidden to watch the scene

The hawk stays below the treetops

The crows have the high ground, screaming their warnings above

A sudden flash of wing

The stab of talons grasping at low branches

And the hawk takes his reward off through the trees

Crows screaming at him, paving his way with shrieks

Poor squirrel never knew what hit him

But I knew...

I had been feeding them corn, and they had become fat, slow

Now I knew who I was really feeding

At my feeders in the trees

Understanding nature, I shrugged

And with a new appreciation

Placed more corn out