07-14-2026, 04:29 AM
edit3;
A crow harassed a red-tailed hawk today,
black gestures twisting, flapping hard sometimes.
Crow tacked on escalator-steps of air
and struggled to gain place above, in front
of raptor which, gray swimmer in silk sky,
responded lazily on banking wings.
Each time the striving crow had almost gained
position to attack, to stoop, to nip,
the heavy hawk – designed for lethal strikes-
extended, spending altitude for speed
and left the crow behind, a blowing chuff
of chaff not worth attacking but endowed
with wild ambition, laughter in the face
of unconcerned assurance, royal grace.
Thanks again to all critics. Experimenting here with a couple of small tweaks, one of which further dilutes the Lesson (g) . Unless, that is, the lesson is something like envy... come to think of it, "royal" could be "envied." But no. (Space for changes is becoming limited.)
A crow harassed a red-tailed hawk today,
black gestures twisting, flapping hard sometimes.
Crow tacked on escalator-steps of air
and struggled to gain place above, in front
of raptor which, gray swimmer in silk sky,
responded lazily on banking wings.
Each time the striving crow had almost gained
position to attack, to stoop, to nip,
the heavy hawk – designed for lethal strikes-
extended, spending altitude for speed
and left the crow behind, a blowing chuff
of chaff not worth attacking but endowed
with wild ambition, laughter in the face
of unconcerned assurance, royal grace.
Thanks again to all critics. Experimenting here with a couple of small tweaks, one of which further dilutes the Lesson (g) . Unless, that is, the lesson is something like envy... come to think of it, "royal" could be "envied." But no. (Space for changes is becoming limited.)
Non-practicing atheist