Best Prey Poems
Perched from approaching danger quite at home high up on the tree
gazing encompassing the full view of everything around me
Listening to the whispers of the breeze flowing through the forest trees
Autumn leaves gracefully waltz downward on the woodland floor sea
Movement sounds of rustling leaves beneath the canopy of trees
Silently I fly spreading my wings striking with my talons wide
Down into the world with impact force I snatch my prey with pride
3/17/2016
A cerulean heron
perches in cloisonne
among jade shoots
of a topaz tree
as shadows of platinum fish
undulate in silence
of teal waters.
The tableau of moonstone,
fulgid in azure sky,
hovers in citrine dusk
above pearl clouds
and indigo coastal bluffs.
Night's onyx falls quickly;
the food chain pauses
until sun's lambent carnelian
emerges above a pewter horizon,
when jeweled birds of prey feed
and the gemstone cycle continues.
Blood mixed with dirt was still moist on the ground
Traces of battle were scattered around
The man entered slowly, a snare on his face
Trying to hide his contempt and disgrace
Announced by the cheers of the people above
Among all the fighters they showed him most love
Never defeated, no matter the foe
With him they all knew they would soon see a show
The man was all muscle, and seven feet tall
Compared to his size, all the guards appeared small
His skin was tanned golden, his eyes piercing green
His hair long and braided and dark with a sheen
His helmet of metal was fitted just so
His sword and his shield had a rich, shiny glow
A belt made of leather protected his waist
His greaves, thick and sturdy and perfectly laced
Suddenly silent, the crowd had grown still
Awaiting arrival, expecting a thrill
And then there was thunder, the roar of the beast
Declaring his entrance, predicting a feast
The man and the lion began in their game
Predator, prey, they both looked the same
They circled and circled and then in a blink
The cat had attacked him, so anxious to drink
They struggled together, the two locked in war
The crowd cheered them on, hoping for gore
And then he was bitten, the wound on his leg
But he would not fumble and he would not beg
He reached for his weapon so close where it lay
He would not accept this would be his last day
And just as the creature had pounced in the air
He killed the great cat with his sword and a prayer
The fighter stood up with his blood dripping down
The steel of his helmet concealing his frown
The great gladiator continued to reign
Another he killed, one more smile he must feign
Where a dingo, with crushed skull, lies,
a stout round creature backs up
from the entrance of his burrow.
His sturdy rump has saved him,
and his worst enemy has been
rear-ended by a wombat!
Written Jan. 17, 2015 by Andrea Dietrich
for the Night Creatures Contest of nette onclaud
Animal is #1: Wombat
There is a moment that stalks my solitude
the one where my soul breaks from your absence,
it lurks with the confidence of apocalyptic attitude,
from my fortitude a firecry of absolute need attacks resistance
revealing your fingerprints upon my heart, patterns in somatic multitude
making lust an onslaught of obsession, soul ignition, kiss cognition, partner permanence,
there will be no heart barter, no angle of defense, just you and me in beautiful exactitude,
I discover you everyday, the omnipresence of your love's mainstay
warm on the ******** of my morning, leading me into creation,
I find your poetry in freedom's pain, where love and life play
and when pity drums a cold doubt I see your brave grin,
as the battles end with quiet fatigue you stay
strong and sweet, a promise pure within,
when night softens the body I lay
you take me to bliss again -
J.A.B.
Bird of Prey
On Banyon Lake, where waterfowl dwell,
The night was tranquil and held no fear.
Until came a sound ascended from Hell.
I heard a menacing cry as I drew near.
Upon the shore no wave did break.
No whispers on the wind were heard.
Nor was there a splash on the lake.
From any waterfowl or roosting bird.
The anxious cooing of mated doves
Cried out a warning on this ominous night
They heard the screech from far above,
And trilled warning of a hungry bird in flight.
A mother swan, at the edge of the lake,
gathered her chicks beneath her wings.
It was a time to stay alert and awake.
In the face of danger, no bird dared sing.
The predator hovered high in the sky.
I saw her shadow blanket the moon.
With yet another shrill, piercing cry,
I heard the faint wail of a single loon.
There was movement among the reeds.
The hunter circled in search of her prey.
Her only focus was to fulfill her need
Before dark gave way to light of day.
Talons lowered, she opened her beak.
Again she screamed from great height.
Eyes focused on the fish she did seek.
Upon her wings, reflected moonlight.
Down she plunged with swiftest speed.
With keen senses she was able to snare
The prize that would sate her needs,
And enough to feed her fledgling pair.
With a flap of wings she rose in the sky.
A fish clutched in the grip of her claws.
All the birds were safe. I let out a sigh.
Fulfilled was Mother Nature's basic law.
A stilt legged egret came out of hiding.
Swans craned their necks in a swoon.
Doves continued their calls and chiding.
A nightingale whistled a joyous tune.
On Banyon Lake, where waterfowl dwell,
All was peaceful, serene, and still.
Upon the water, silver moonbeams fell.
The bird of prey had eaten her fill.
(I couldn't talk about it so I wrote a poem)
Predator
Heartbreak comes in many ways.
The first one will haunt me for all my days.
My every nightmare and dream has your face
to ignite my screams, my heart beat haste.
Time won't heal this shattered trust,
the lies you told of the future “us”.
You used your power and prominence,
used the pulpit as your lance.
You claim God's voice was your own,
“His” words from your lips like honeycomb.
Sweet to the ear, a seductive flow,
still just a child, I didn't know.
Just like a sick soap opera or Lifetime movie, you set your sights, began to groom me.
I feel so foolish and naive looking back …
at seventeen, innocent, easy to attack.
Like the lame and young ones trailing the herd, predators take the straying,easy kill first.
How patient you were, lying in wait.
You took careful steps as if I might escape. Sneaking up on me in plain sight
until your touch, familiar, I didn't fight. Spinning this elaborate fantasy, our destiny. Ordained by God, you made me believe.
Then you struck, like the viper you were,
after years of a patient petting, persistent purr. A velvet vice, an auspicious anchor,
held me captive in false love’s languor.
Then the poisonous venom began its work, you used me in ways that only hurt.
I was a willing, if deceived, participant…
so in love, no evil intent.
Then some wisdom from above,
in the form of family and out of love.
The truth so evident with blinders off,
some won't believe me, will only scoff.
Five years of his amorous attentions,
with promises of forever never failing to mention.
The patina of youth and vicious game of prey, his sick desires for me, began to fade.
You found a limping, more vulnerable gazelle, and knowing this my family tells.
Although I find it hard to trust,
my faith in God is deeper and thus,
He's used this pain to help me find
peace and truth, leaving the past behind.
For my faith is no longer in any man,
and gratefully, never will be again.
Justice on this earth is not guaranteed…
but from his wicked spell I am freed!
Said the Chipmunk to the Hawk
Said scared, little, tail-striped chipmunk to red-tailed hawk,
“I am hidden over there where you will not find me.”
Said hawk in a swoop to another branch, “Jiggle that
tail again, so I’ll dive and sweep you off to heaven!”
Crouching as flat to the earth as she could be, chip-
munk said, “But I am already there where all points
of heaven reveal bliss...” which did perplex red-tail hawk,
who gawked up, then scanned all around for
some clue of heaven in this forest he knew he knew,
as she provoked, “You see?” But with his instincts
darting everywhere, hawk replied, “You lie! You
make riddles of my threat!” To which she flashed to
the opening of her tunnel, quick as light, calling,
“Heaven does contrive for good in life!” Hawk
affirmed a new place of some prey and turned.
Was he not made to hunt? Not for dramas like this?
Hawk bent over his feet, lifted his wings into flight
aimed at rustling leaves not far away. Hawk, while in
his flash, asked his forest, “Heaven, does it spread
as far as over there where I go?” Forest said, “No know,
no.” Hawk did not understand...In her tunnel, chip-
munk dropped two acorns from her cheeks to eat.
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(c) sally Young eslinger 2/2021
A spider carefully plans and schemes
the pattern for its life and quest.
It spends its hours weaving dreams
until it creates its sticky best.
Its web is tatted small and refined
or brocaded in heavy tapestry.
Soon prey finds itself entwined,
entombed within this basketry.
The spider calmly enswathes it,
a gesture quick yet fatal.
To paralyze this tasty tidbit,
its single bite is detrimental.
To live, to spin, to weave, to eat,
is spider’s deadly task’s cycle.
Web mastery, a cunning feat,
ensures the spider’s survival.
The spirit of memories polluted
fingerprints crossing over your spine
Ghouls that crawl eerily creeping
from an abyss of the darkest claws scratching
Consuming with fire aching burns
scaled by nightmares of the past demons
From under tombstones they rise cold echoes
undead souls of bygone nightshades haunt
I am the predator you watch up in the sky
Blessed by the Lord with the keenest of eyes
I nest in the canyons high up on the walls
Keeping my babies safe from it all
When my babies grow hungry and it's time to feed
I rely on my senses to provide what they need
As I take to the sky it's so clear to see
You think of freedom while looking at me
Protected from hunters I've no need to hide
As upon the currents I gracefully glide
As I circle the sky throughout the day
I scour the ground searching for prey
When prey is spotted I go into my dive
Know that speed and accuracy are how I survive
You duck and you dodge for no use at all
With you held in my talons I fly back up the wall
Back to the nest to the fruit of my seed
For you are the food my babies need
Then back to the sky where I notice under a tree
One peaceful poet is writing of me
Bird of prey will dive today,
His quarry soon consumed
From one mile high,
Will catch it’s eye,
So life goes on,
resumed.
Touch not the chick ,
Of eagle quick,
Iron talons claw your face,
Flashing feathers ,
Clawed and bit,
Begone, it’s not your place.
Our Aussie Eagle Hawk ,
Has a 6 foot span of wing,
Carries off a lamb in spring,
Old Rabbit sometimes feels the sting,
And still he flies of course:) 31-july-11
john freeman
Contest Name Pure Thoughts On Nature
Not even a ballot box can change the word etched
when God has left man to his own independent council
Choice of error has crept into every corner of society
rights have been turned upside down undervaluing natural law
Which in it's content is engraved deeply and implanted for a genuine reason
vices are desires that sickens even demons
Ruling against eternal justice reeks of an awful sinful soul
what is wrong with the world today let us see
They are afraid to speak the truth openly and democratically
instead virtues and morals are fed to the lions
The first victim removing freedom
weighs heavy chains attached anchor dropped
Because of them having very little faith
sinking beneath par they applaud the sinner
removing peace fire breathing with shame and hate
Condemning everything which is good
with twisted malice beastly shaped with doctored views condemned
it will end soon when everyone awakens
from their sorrowful pitied state
Kingdom of predators held at bay,
the enchanted land where we live,
survival of the fittest what they say,
too many “takers” not willing to give.
A dangerous place to say the least,
servants ruled by power and might,
under a false cloud known as peace,
proclaimed leaders say what’s right.
Conflicts of man repeat over time,
history teaches yet we still forget,
peace only exist within one’s mind,
when living our lives without regret.
Society’s greed, the hardship of war,
political lies fuel the need for power,
while the rich and poor all want more,
our own worst enemy that will devour.
Each of us are victims, we are the prey,
servants and rulers, lost in confusion,
each hoping to gain, to survive the day,
never realizing peace is just an illusion.
lioness is hunting
lioness is prowling
prowling at midnight
prowling for prey
prey, unaware.
prey is now on the run
run, Impala, run
run for your life
life is on the line
life is in grave danger
danger in the wilderness
danger is very real
real as can be
real and deadly
deadly predator
deadly precision
precision pounce
precision, absolute.
absolute hunter
absolute stealth
stealth assassin
stealth undetected
undetected in the tall grass
undetected big cat
cat, undomesticated.
cat of the wild
wild nature
wild animal
animal on the menu
animal targeted
targeted not for sport
targeted for food
food for predator, scarce;
food needed for survival
survival is key in The Serengeti
survival of the fittest
fittest apex predator
fittest of them all
all nighter lioness
all powerful
powerful talons
powerful jaws
jaws that crush windpipes
jaws of death
death by ambush
death of Impala prey
prey caught unaware
prey never stood a chance
chance
unaware