by Elsa Johnson
Everything is exposed and vulnerable ground frozen
patches of ice softening can’t expect leaves on trees
for weeks yet Movement above : raptor rides air
settles high in a bare tree stares down Cooper’s?
Red Tail? – Sharp Shinned? They all look a lot alike :
studies me large intruder in its naked kingdom It is
hungry — eats meat — prefers morsels — I’m too big
Patience hawk : small meat’s coming — better hunting ahead
Further on a chipmunk churrrs flicks her tail She’s made it
it through a hard winter I call : hawk is hunting the perfect
snack she dives into her round bare hole Take care
chipmunk — hawk is hungry : better cover is coming
Out on the lake the honking geese waddle across the melting ice
drive at rivals with rush of wings They will breed soon
lay eggs — hatch chicks Beware geese hawk is hungry :
turtle will be hungry too when he wakes up Danger
lurks below the ice snapper swims there last summer
he took down a full size goose with a squawk and a flurry
as wings wrenched air trying to lift hang on lift
Then goose went down under the water and did not
come back up : Good hunting
turtle when the water warms