Stolen Feathers Poem by Jane L. Carman

1

Eight yellow legs
bent and motionless
wait for a victim
to land
on a silken plate
trapped
the fly fights
until the hum
is silenced
still
living prey
is wrapped
in a cocoon
like take-out
the black body
a goblet of wine
ageing for
blood thirsty infants

2

The Sparrow
hops through grass
a wind-up toy
a bully
in disguise
her gray shadow
warns creatures
smaller than her
eight short legs
crouch
but cannot hide
lunch
she searches
for more
a serial killer

3

Hidden among
foliage and Liatris
the predator waits
near snowy popcorn
tossed out
by shoeless children
a downy dinner approaches
a baited scene
the predator uncoils
releasing muscles
piercing the bird
with two
long cool arrows
the drunken sparrow
stumbles into weariness
slowly the serpent
moves the still
breathing prey
from grass
to tighter surroundings
unable to struggle
the bird gazes
at the deadly popcorn

4

The hawk
floats by my window
like Indiana Jones
carrying a whip
still juicy hide
wrenches and twists
like a dew worm
freshly kabobed
the whip protests
mouth wide open
screaming to no one
the lonely prey
sails away
in the clutch
of its master

5

A clan of cleaners
spins like an overturned
Ferris wheel on high
scouting for movement
from the still
red hawk
confident of death
they slowly descend
in comfortable convince
buzzards devour
bloated predator
leaving nothing behind
but feathers
stolen by the wind