He would have had his head tilted
listening for earthworms.
He wouldn't have noticed
a shadow hugging the ground
or heard the short wings
swooping the air
propelling the raptor forward
its long tail fanned out
to break speed.
The last thing the blackbird saw
was the yellow eyed sparrow hawk
fixing it in a deadly stare
before claws descending
left feathers shorn
blacken the air.
What we saw
looking out our kitchen window
was a hooked beak delve
into bird skull
and strong yellow legs pin
their prey to the ground.
It was too late to save the songster
and probably unwise.
Copyright 2023 Cathy Leonard
😫🥺😩
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