MOTHERHOOD

MOTHERHOOD

Against the wind she flew,

Magnificent golden feathers slick against a slender body,

Sparkling wings pumping in perfect unison,

Catching the cold updraft,

Lifting her higher and higher into the low-hanging clouds.

Glancing at the glistening snow peaks far below,

Telescopic eyesight searching for dark movement against brilliant snow.

Hungry, scanning the panorama carefully,

Remembering the last attempt,

Failed, defeated.

A parent fox too watchful over its baby.

Finally, a shadow.

 A hare traveling swiftly over frozen landscape.

Golden bird angles her body quickly to drift lower,

Down, down, out of the clouds.

Silent glide taking her low over the unaware hare.

Stretching talons, powerful swoop.

Making contact.

Wings pumping hard she rises high again

Into the wind.

Talons clutching tightly into hare’s bleeding flesh,

Turning easily toward the distant cliff face

To the nest.