Natures Cruelty

Sitting in the shade of a willow tree Reading, relaxing, enjoying the day When, in the corner of my eye, I see Soft shadows shifting and watch a stoat sway Not moving a muscle, nerves all on edge My eyes went searching, covering the ground And there, in full view, beneath a brown hedge A lone furry rabbit, helpless to bound His stance was stock still, as if hypnotised Standing seduced by the predator’s dance His life, in an instant, was sacrificed The rabbit, poor thing, had never a chance Here in this valley beside a still brook I read a sad page from natures own book.