RED TAIL HAWK

Perched on a tree branch, swaying slightly
in the June breeze.
Napoleonic: One talon on branch,
one tucked under his belly feathers.

Bing cherry eyes, hooked beak,
dull brown coat with white specks,
downy white front feathers and,
of course, the red tail.

I blink.
He swoops into the brush
and leaps back up to the branch.
No luck.
No lunch on this try.

He glances my way.
If I were smaller,
I would be his lunch.
He views me haughtily,
as Napoleon to a
Russian peasant.



©T.Puma/MMXI