no longer earthbound
taking flight
soaring skyward
the freedom of feathered wing
over hollow bone
riding the thermals
climbing ever upward
gliding
circling
warmed by the sun
adrift in the heavens
free as the breeze
that envelopes me
suddenly…
I dive earthward
wings tucked
rocketing down
toward the crystal blue
of a crisp mountain lake
my vision
piercing the clear surface
penetrating to the bottom
then I sail out
racing purposefully
a talon’s reach
‘cross the wind-blown chopwater
and connect
a slight tilt in my wings
carries me skyward once more
my prey in my powerful grasp
lifting toward the treetop
of a massive conifer
towering at water’s edge
reaching the peak
my wings at full extension
I flap them gracefully backward
pulling against momentum
the prize viced in my beak
I glide down
gently reaching
to land soft as a fallen leaf
in the uppermost branches
the victorious hunter
home again
Hi! I’m Edgrrr, rob’s shih tzu.
A beautiful poem from the perspective of a falcon, Rob! I was flying with it, ‘un-tethered / no longer earthbound’ and I love the phrase ‘freedom of feathered wing / over hollow bone’, and the way the lines ride the thermals. I can imagine the view of the lake from the top of the massive conifer.
I am so pleased this resonated for you Kim. I loved to watch in amazement, the beautiful predator raptors (hawks, eagles, osprey) when I would be out fishing on the Cascade Mountain lakes and rivers, in my wooden drift boat. They nearly always got their target. Incredible to observe them up close. I would fantasize their flight! They were quite many of them in the conifer canopies around the lakes and along the rivers. I miss my years of the days and nights out on the waters. I would launch my McKenzie River drift boat by myself, but failing health has prevented me doing so since 2015. I hand-built that wonderful boat in the winter of 1990, when we first moved to Oregon City, OR. I spent thousands of hours on the water, in the quarter century I owned it, enjoying that little beauty. It truly broke my heart to sell it, but I know the fisherman who bought it. He loves it, and treats it royaly!
This is incredibly beautiful, Rob! 🙂 Especially like; “the freedom of feathered wing over hollow bone.”
Thank you Sanaa. For the mass of their bodies, they move so light snd nimble. It is fascinating to watch.
Very beautiful. I love free falcons and hawks
Thank you Toni. I spent 25 years in my boat, fishing the wild lakes and rivers of Oregon, with magnificent hawks, eagles, osprey and the like — gliding, diving, snd fishing all around me. It was exhilarating when I’d spot one overhead. I would often stop fishing just to observe their graceful power. Breathtaking to see them up-close, in nature!
What a wonderful ride you portray with the falcon…
Thank you Björn… 🙂
Sigh, I wish I could fly too. I certainly enjoyed your flight through poetry.
Wouldn’t that sure as hell be nice Susie! 🙂
Susie, I wanted to tell you how damned right on your piece “Born of Feathers” is — ass-kicking powerful! But your blog won’t let me leave a post…