eagle, hunting

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Susan L Daniels

her veed shadow
slides over grass
taloned
purposeful, patient
in slow spirals of seeking

interposed
between sunlight
& safety

for the small things
she hunts

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About Susan L Daniels

I am a firm believer that politics are personal, that faith is expressed through action, and that life is something that must be loved and lived authentically--or why bother with any of it?
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18 Responses to eagle, hunting

  1. AshiAkira's avatar AshiAkira says:
    July 31, 2012 at 11:01 am

    I feel of something that’s well, and beautifully, said by this poem.

  2. doncarroll's avatar doncarroll says:
    July 31, 2012 at 1:13 pm

    a small metaphor of having sharp keen eyes for the word. nice susan:)

  4. Noel Ihebuzor's avatar Noel Ihebuzor says:
    July 31, 2012 at 4:35 pm

    can one say “beautiful” but still side with the prey – with the small things that the predator swoops on in a celebration of strength, guile, stealth, swiftness and patience?

  5. gladiuspoeticus's avatar gladiuspoeticus says:
    August 1, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    Searching for the delicacy of poetry purposeful, patient
    in slow spirals of seeking

  6. thecavesofaltamira's avatar Jeremy Nathan Marks says:
    August 1, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    The last two stanzas seem to circle the way I have noticed hawks and eagles circle. It is funny, but it is a hawk that I saw in my mind while reading this even though your poem reminded me of Tennyson’s “The Eagle”:

    He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
    Close to the sun in lonely lands,
    Ringed with the azure world, he stands.

    The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
    He watches from his mountain walls,
    And like a thunderbolt he falls.

    • Susan L Daniels's avatar Susan L Daniels says:
      August 1, 2012 at 10:29 pm

      The inspiration for this was seeing the bald eagle (well, one of our pair) soaring and gliding the thermals, but then s/he dropped low, and I was enthralled with the shadow was that was coasting and gliding on the ground–it was almost as if the shadow was hunting, and not the bird. Love the Tennyson poem 🙂

      • thecavesofaltamira's avatar Jeremy Nathan Marks says:
        August 1, 2012 at 10:30 pm

        I really like the image of the “shadow hunting.” I can see that on a hot summer day with a brilliant blue sky.

        • Susan L Daniels's avatar Susan L Daniels says:
          August 1, 2012 at 10:34 pm

          It was stunning. I have never seen that before–I guess you need to have a really large bird of prey to throw one that magical and menacing. Interestingly enough, just this morning, I just read the section in Becoming Animal (which I got at your suggestion–loving it and thanks for suggesting it, BTW) where he discusses shadows as being part of us. Remembering the eagle’s shadow from the day before really brought this home to me.

          • thecavesofaltamira's avatar Jeremy Nathan Marks says:
            August 1, 2012 at 10:37 pm

            I’m so glad you got the book and are enjoying it! That section on shadows is, I think, brilliant. It was captivating from start to finish and I can honestly say I have never read anything quite like it.

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