Wednesday, December 17, 2014

"Interdependence"


Interdependence

Blue jays scream insults
as red shouldered hawk loops
and feints toward the ground.

More often I find him perched
in the canopy, a martyr, shoulders hunched
taking on crows' cries of vengeance.

The murder seems sanctimonious;
turf and heirs must be protected -
even songbirds dive bomb for peace.

I watch the hawk spiral skyward,
exiled; nearby he'll await in the field,
ready to attack and make his kill.

No dogma, no ritual disobeyed -
no anger, no prayers;
just death in order to live.

by Margaret Bednar, December 17, 2014

* A group of crows is called a murder.   

I originally had the following as the fourth stanza but I don't think it is necessary and the final stanza is enough.  Who knows I might put it back. 

Legend has it Cain
was banished to the moon;
truce wasn't his motive.


A few medieval legends say the man laboring on the moon is Cain, banished from earth for his sin. 

12 comments:

Susie Clevenger said...

"death in order to live" Powerful

Kerry O'Connor said...

I love the angle you brought to this challenge, Margaret. Competition, domination, survival instinct are the keys to life on Earth - except that in the animal kingdom, no sin is attached to it. We sentient beings know the difference between good and evil, and seem more motivated by greed than the hungry hawk of your poem.

Excellent poem!

Anonymous said...

A great meditation, Margaret, and shows the truth of what is red in tooth and claw: that killing is deep in the nature of life, in our nature. It's when we pick up all of those tools to accomplish it that all of the crows cry fowl. (Sorry.) Hadn't heard that tale about Cain, so the Man in the Moon is menacing one ...

Wolfsrosebud said...

lovely informative write... i loved the nature elements in this

TexWisGirl said...

nature is tough.

Hannah said...

So many times I'm captivated by the drama that exists in the sky...I like what you've captured here, Margaret!

Gail said...

A powerful circle in nature...well done!

Sreeja said...

So much to capture from these lines....evokes imagination....

Anonymous said...

here, 'red shouldered' can carry a 2nd meaning, too. wise pen, Margaret ~

Lisa Gordon said...

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, and a bright and beautiful New Year, Margaret.

Anonymous said...

how are you, my dear poet princess.
your poem always carry charm and nature of love.

Anonymous said...

Happy writing.



hello, happy holidays.

encouraging you to submit a haiku to us today,

http://purpletreehouse.blogspot.com/2014/12/christmas-special-of-poetic-forms-haiku.html