Spring morning,
quiet. One coyote,
three deer
running in snow.
What else have I seen?
A sparrow hawk in mid-air snatch
a robin, a sharp-shinned hawk catch
a rabbit in its talons.
A deaf mute in a pear tree.
Not one wolverine
in Utah or Italy.
Nor a famous samurai.
A young black bear
traverses the lawn in August.
Also quarks. Also oaks.
Do not disturb their progress!
A red fox
alert, no limp
flows silently
across the meadow.
First light, green tea.
A person thinking
epochs and eons.
A platoon of chickadees.
RAPTOR
sparrow hawk alights-
the chattering
stops
just one flap of wings-
the raptor makes its kill
pouncing down at will
The hedge sat quietly on the side street while people passed by on their daily chores
She bathed in spring and summer so sweet as red roses and campion grew by her side watching and listening while family's grew and died
Meandering colours of Persian jewels daisy's and buttercups she shelters sunflowers reach the sky protected from the northern bluster
Sometimes she would get a trim to her sides
As she grew even higher birds made nests or sometimes stop to rest or hide from the sparrow hawk
She would listen to children play and adults talk
Wondering what life would be like to live this way
And when you pass by take a thought for the hedge stands today like her brothers and sisters throughout the globe
And even in the cold of winter refuge can be found
In the hedge
musket
predecessor to the rifle
named for mousquette or sparrow hawk
smoothbore long-barreled firearm
cumbersome, heavy to lift
musket
used by infantrymen
during the War Between the States
Sometimes referred to as the Civil War
Or Sherman and Lee's war
musket
heavy to lift,
large-caliber, clumsy,
muzzle loading
shoulder gun
musket
Whenever I’m able I raid the bird table
I snap up some mealworms and go
The nearby house owner a bad tempered moaner
Berates me because I’m a crow
That snotty Rob Robin just sits there bob bobbing
And snaffles as much as he can
He’d better stop soon he’s the size of the moon
But this doesn't bother the man
Those flashy goldfinches are only five inches
But make a cacophonous sound
Like lambs to the slaughter they come down for water
But I’ve called the sparrow-hawk round
But hey what’s point of a crow having brains
If not to get ill gotten gains
Raiding that fella’s bird table is fun
Caw blimey... he’s got a big gun!
24 May 2021
Contest: Personification poem 150
Sponsor: Caren Krutsinger
Haiku 27
By
Tom Wright
3/1/03
As a sparrow hawk,
Talons fully extended,
Time, devours all things.
I Am A Hawk!
By: Tom Wright
3/16/2006
While we manifest our surly attitude
Like a stealth sparrow hawk in flight,
Numerous, with backbones in absentia
Boast of superior technology and might.
But some would have us as a cooing dove
And our demeanor is likened unto sheep.
But should third world opinion or politics
Dictate the pace, at which our forces creep?
So many of our citizens who clamor for war
But have not the stomach for it’s fighting.
An enemy is the same, man, woman or child
And the innocent’s blood is never inviting.
What was that I just heard
I think it was a baby bird
The sparrow hawk has come today
To take some baby birds away
He doesn’t come to be nice
It’s all a question of life
He has his own brood of chicks to feed
And his supermarket is in the tree
He doesn’t have a qualm
Neither does he have a farm
He just happens to be calm
When he dives down and snatches supper
It’s all about him having the upper
Silent flight, hooked beak, sharp claws
Will break down the door
Bye, bye, baby sparrow, your short life was gifted for another
And so life goes on
DAMO
How beautiful the sounds, sights of nature
In the distance alarm call of a cuckoo,
beautiful sound of summer Tanager
Blackbirds hopping around getting in a stew,
Acrobatics of swallows, swifts, Martins,
Crows of the carrion, rooks, jackdaws, Raven
Cooing of turtle doves and wood pigeons,
Chittering robin, eyes closed what heaven,
Finches so sweet, green, bull, haw, gold and more
Speedy blue, great, coal, willow and marsh ****,
nature is such a pleasure never a chore ,
Seeing these wonderful birds thrills two bits
Serenity while watching our game bird
Pheasant, partridge, grouse, geese and mallard duck
Graceful swans glide, sights and sounds must be heard
Wading birds sifting for food through silt and muck,
birds of prey, kestrel, sparrow hawk, Peregrine
Eagles, buzzards, goshawk, ospreys skilful hunters
Larks hovering, lap wings, owls, magpies so pristine,
Sea birds, waders, hunters, lovely colours,
These moments of relaxation, undisturbed
listening, watching our beautiful wild birds.
Tantalizing wind
Meadow ripples, full of life
Caterpillar morph
Bird of prey, predator's eye.
Silent glide across pasture.
To the tapping bird
by KateM @ 2015-03-12 – 12:48:21
A bird taps on this window every day,
Frail as flying leaves are in a gale.
But now he perches on the potted bay.
He feels the weather like the blind do braille.
This bird is faithful and I hold him dear.
He's fearless as he pecks upon the glass.
We hope he has a modicum of fear,
For who knows when a sparrow hawk will pass?
I see him like a human soul forlorn
Struggling to discern his fateful way.
For soon he may be taken by a storm
But blithely he will eat, and after play.
The smallest bird has trust in the Unknown
By his example, our own way is shown
There is a sparrow-hawk souring high and low around a huge forest,
Searching, just above the ground into the farm lands and gardens,
He swoops down in a morning sun an atmosphere soft and delightful,
Like a bullet over cowslips and primroses, there is one less robin,
His tail is long and slim it sets him apart from the other hawks,
He flies through his skies clipping the abundant nightingale wings,
Although his eyes see for miles he flies fast and near the ground,
Young pheasants hide in the rich green grass of a lush hidden meadow.
The secret meadow has been left untouched and alone for many years,
Home to the Austrian briar, Guelder roses and fiery orange poppies
Enjoying the peace of a spring morning the grass rich with clover,
The hawk catches a small bird that hangs in the air and swoops away.
The air of the grass is delicious, scattered flowers nod in a breeze,
Butcher-birds are noisy a sure sign that they have some young chicks,
Turtle-doves are abundant in the near by forest well hidden by thorns,
Above all, in an old oak a hawk sits watching, waiting for his dinner.
-
I saw my sparrow hawk one summer back
It landed on my wooden platform specially made for him or her last year
A chest of creamy fur and a keen black eye.
An unusual sighting I ran to my mobile phone and flashed
Oh dear first shot messed up.
Second shot success as it flew away
Excited to see I developed the picture and the bird was not there.
How come. Then I noticed the smallest tip of a wing. My bird was lost.
Lost against the blur of the leafy bushes as she flew M shaped away.
My wife saw it so often I was jealous. My moment had came at last.
It came and went in a flash a wasted one.
And I have to now wait another summer.
The sparrow hawk is so near dear!
Shush, shush, or, he will surely hear.
Yes, yes, you are a rare beauty
with a fine voice, a real cutie.
Enough tweeting, be silent please,
we’ve a nest full of babies, geez!
My sweet song bird, I’ll free your beak,
if you would only shush, don’t tweet!
bittersweet vine
twist like pipe curls on a finger
blue birds sings
bird song arias
wake the sun-soaked cat napping
feathers fly
down laced twigs
incubate the Robin’s blue eggs
puss licks his whiskers
lofted sparrow hawk
warm basket of new born kittens
noon whistle
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