The Eagle

THE EAGLE From sheer Jurassic precipice he soared Surveyed the land for gifts it might afford Across the broad flat valley’s rich domain With viewpoint high, low altitude disdain In languid circling track approaching nigh The eagle now came level eye with eye He seemed to nod to one perceived as peer Acknowledged coexistence without fear His self assurance of a privileged strain In higher echelon of victual chain No predator to make threat to his being Where flight has no concomitance with fleeing We two shared aspect regal and remote Above a distant world seeming to denote A subject to be seen with cool detachment From other lives set on their own enactment The matchstick men in matchbox cars below Proceed in patterns conjunct, fluent flow As if directed by a master plan The pieces moved as by an unseen hand Yet inside every box there is a mind That makes decisions well informed or blind The myriads of choices of direction Have source within those living souls’ election I marvel at this concept: life centricity The thought of such abundance, prolificity Of individual life forms each conferred in The ability, its intentions to determine Some say we’re mere machines therefore robotic Or otherwise controlled by force hypnotic And some aver a plan: divine intention By God who makes judgemental intervention I claim no knowledge, or insight on this score Perhaps one day I’ll know with sureness more ‘Til then prefer this chosen metaphor - In freedom I would with the eagle soar