City Hawk
Kathleen M. Dwyer 2001
In the middle of the city street
claws wedged tightly into the frozen prey
You actually stayed longer than you should have
risking that precious second
that might have been the difference between
life and death
How many of your friends
have you seen taken out
splattered over the pavement from just such a moment of survival?
Perhaps it is an unexpected gift from my past
that I was not surprised to see you staring at me
as you struggled to try to remove both yourself and your prey
Anything is possible
to the extremes of the outer edges
of both the positive and negative
But this morning,
as I obsessively planned, if not my permanent,
at least my temporary departure
You blocked my path...causing me to stop fully...and mirrored
back to me determination, courage and survival
Thank You!
City Hawk Two
Kathleen M. Dwyer 2/2010
Perched fifty feet up
on the expressway light
you looked worn and tattered
after all these years
wings frayed... belly winter grey...
head fur looking not unlike my own when I first awake
As always, I said good morning and
thanked you for the contact on this day,
sent you loving and healing energy
and wondered about your days in the city...
were you finding enough to eat...
even as I saw your thinness
Driving under and by your perch
I asked about the other two that
I sometimes saw you soar with
and dance the beautiful sky dance of hawks
as you search for prey..
mate...fun...
An hour later,
city and you long behind me
full, tall and protective trees lined the highway
perched among them country hawk welcomed travelers
Her body full, feathers neatly tucked...
she looked strong, regal and wise
Again I sent out my greeting and gratitude...
love and healing...
but could not deny the contrast of the two...
concern filled me...questions swirled through my head
another lesson...perhaps not so much for my survival
but rather, for both of you.
