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Hunger Preys

an old ripped tarp argues with the wind
the NO TRESPASSING sign trembles
an underdressed scare crow ‘crazy dances”
mocking a city dweller manically hailing a cab
the warmth of the red barn lies to the field mice
offers only the emptiness of progress
sad hollow hope of grain-less silos
silent feathers watch as hunger preys
upon the return of every sunrise
an old ripped tarp argues with the wind 


©1/20/2019

Copyright © John Lawless | Year Posted 2019

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Line Gauthier Date: 2/18/2019 8:03:00 AM Poignant and artfully crafted. A beauty, John. Login to Reply

Beata Agustin Date: 2/13/2019 8:35:00 PM Well-expressed observation. Congrats! Thanks for sharing your talent. God bless you. Login to Reply

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart Date: 2/13/2019 9:13:00 AM Fantastic imagery ~ sound. Congratulations on your top win John! xomo Login to Reply

Rob Carmack Date: 2/12/2019 10:33:00 PM Brilliant. Login to Reply John Lawless Date: 2/13/2019 7:57:00 AM Oh, the difference a day, and a contest sponsor, make. Appreciate the top placement Rob and the "second' chance to post this in a contest

Gregory Richard Barden Date: 1/26/2019 6:03:00 PM I just rescued a tarp from under the snow of my deck, (as it's been relatively "warm" here the last couple of days), before the frigid hit again ... this morning when out to feed the crows, (yes, I feed them, squirrels, birds, deer, foxes) ... I'm right in town, but we have a small wildlife refuge out back, and the new houses have not discouraged the wildlife, thankfully. I even had a Blue Heron on the lawn this summer - eating squirrels! :-D Wonderful write, John - fav-ing this one! Login to Reply John Lawless Date: 2/13/2019 7:59:00 AM Gregory are you sure that "blue" heron wasn't just thawing out from the cold.....Thanks for you continued support.

Valerie Staton Date: 1/20/2019 4:59:00 PM I thoroughly enjoyed this poem! Login to Reply John Lawless Date: 1/21/2019 8:45:00 AM Glad you liked it Valerie

Andrea Dietrich Date: 1/20/2019 3:22:00 PM very good writing John, and I liked how it all came back to the tarp. That was great peronification of it. Login to Reply John Lawless Date: 1/21/2019 8:42:00 AM thanks Andrea, stay warm. Those ripped tarps always seem sadly prophetic

Carolyn Devonshire Date: 1/20/2019 2:22:00 PM Raising crops rarely yields much profit and the hungry mice have few places to turn. Powerful free verse, John. And I loved your reference on how to hail a cab. Best wishes in Edward's contest! Login to Reply John Lawless Date: 1/21/2019 8:39:00 AM Thanks Carolyn, I just finished digging out from under ice covered hard packed snow racing to beat sub zero temps approaching quickly. Ah, Winter!