Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Along the Edge of the Woods

Tuesday, December 18, 2007
7 comments

Appearing like a rusty apparition
along the edge of the woods
the red-shoulder sits
waiting for a noisy skitter
of cottontail or squirrel.

He shiver-shakes snowflakes off his back
pulling one foot up
into warm belly down,
slowly settling every feather back into place.

I admire this bird
living by his wits, patience, and killing skill
through afternoons of wet snow, rain
and nights cold enough to crack trees.

Make it through this winter
and let me hear you
screaming keee-yah! keee-yah!
right into the the sun's face.

Then I'll know that spring has finally come
and another winter has passed.

7 comments:

On December 18, 2007 at 8:24 PM monarchbfly.com said...

I just love Red-shouldered Hawk and I love their keee-yah! Keee-yah!!

On December 19, 2007 at 6:34 AM Jayne said...

Beautiful Bill, just beautiful. :c)

On December 19, 2007 at 11:20 AM Bill of the Birds said...

Thanks Tom & Jayne.
Our red-shoulders stay with us all year long. And that's a good thing.

On December 19, 2007 at 5:35 PM Anne said...

He shiver-shakes snowflakes

Love the image, love the words, love to do it!

On December 20, 2007 at 6:21 AM T.R. said...

beautiful post and that photo is haunting...absolute perfection.

On December 20, 2007 at 8:24 PM Mary said...

It's so good I read it twice. Bravo. keee-yah!

On June 20, 2022 at 3:15 AM Cubic Interiors said...

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