It is hard to understand the changing roles that we experience throughout our lives. Nature is a great teacher if we keep our eyes and mind open. The situations and stations of our lives can change in a moment.
Predators and Victims
I am the hawk;
floating, soaring, drifting
high in the winter sky.
I watch many things.
A mouse sunbathes
beside its burrow;
a rabbit rambles;
munching slowly.
Across the hill,
a young chicken strut
before her rooster,
but I will replace her lover.
I dip my wing to the sun
and fall like a dart,
straight to the mark;
rigidly silent, deadly.
The shotgun blast
stops my flight in mid-thrust,
freezing my universe
in an echo of reality
The farmer breaks open the gun,
tossing the spent cartridge
upon the crushed sack
of my feathers, entrails, beak, and claws.
The farmer swoops quickly
to break the pullet’s neck,
carrying the dangling bird
off to Sunday dinner.
© Copyright 1973
Jim Hetzer
December 18, 1973, Mexico City
Walking the Spirit Path 