Tre and I observe nature
from our back patio
His eyes veer upward
To the bare branches of a tree
A bird opens its large wings
And flies from one tree to another
In unison with the hawk’s flight
A terrifying squeal occurs
The screeches are blood-curdling
The cries for help painful to the ears
Agony for the animal in anguish
I tell myself it must be
A bird from somewhere else
Calling to its mate
The tormented cries continue
And I know for sure
The hawk has captured its meal
Nature is beautiful
Nature is hideous
Nature follows its nature
Nature needs nourishment
Nature doesn’t stop to ask why
Nature knows who and what it is
Nature is being
A squirrel climbs a nearby tree
The furry-tailed creature
Pitter-patters along the sprigs
Using them as pathways
One by one traveling higher
It leaps to the vein where the hawk
Had finally quieted its food
The squirrel stops at the other end
Of the branch which holds the hawk
They face off
But the squirrel is no match
For a bird of prey
Or is it
The nut-hoarder races down the tree’s limb
Lunges and screams at the bird
The hawk expands its wings.
The squirrel is relentless
The hawk squawks and flutters its feathers
Something small drops from its talons
And floats away in another direction
The squirrel leaves
The hawk flies away
Nature is beautiful
Nature is hideous
Nature is being
by L. Virelli
Lori's Lane 
I loved this! You did really well at capturing the innate beauty and potent savagery of the wild
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Thanks, Tyler. I’m glad you liked the poem. I was shocked to see that scene write outside my window, cause I don’t live in the country.
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I loved this! You did really well at capturing the innate beauty and potent savagery of the wild. ❤️
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Thank you so much. After I witnessed that scene right in my urban-area back yard, I felt the need to record it in some way. Thanks for checking out my blog. 🙂
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I agree with Anneli that everything has to eat. I’ve been watching for my squirrel buddy but haven’t seen him in a couple of days. I wonder if a raven has gotten him, although it could be just the cold as our temperature dropped again.
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Hi Lynette. I knew there was nothing I could do for the prey, but it sounded horrifying. It was nature at its most beautiful and most hideous. It’s the circle of life that’s not always pretty. Thanks for reading my eyewitness poem.
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Quite often there are things going on that most people don’t know about, even living in a built-up area. You just have to have your eyes and ears open, and look outside at the right time.
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True. And what are the odds that I’d step out on my back stoop at just that moment? It was pretty awesome.
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I know that feeling and am glad you’ve experienced it.
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It all comes down to everything has to eat, and it’s not pretty at times (I say as I bite into my chicken drumstick).
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Yep. True, Anneli. It’s just nature being nature, satisfying its hunger and being what it’s supposed to be.
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Oh, and one more thing, it’s not like I live in a rural area. I couldn’t believe I witnessed that sight right outside my back door! 😮
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