Mary Buchinger

[Cooper’s Hawk]

Cooper’s Hawk stands in the sun
on a stout branch in the pine grove
and barks
cak-cak-cak 

                he jabs his beak
into a nugget
of mouse jeweling
his talon

             cak-cak-cak
urgent and bored
he makes a show of his meal 

 then another Cooper’s Hawk flies in!
lands  a few lengths away  on the same limb
cries whaa!
speckled breast gleaming

      she sidles over
snags the deadmouse  

        holds it firm in her talons
pulls at its innards 

whaa! she shrieks to the golden sun
then pecks some more

&

the first hawk opens his wings
and mounts the second hawk
quick
as she works on the mouse—
that honey trap! 

talons sunk deep into the fur
beak strung w/ ruby ropes

Oh dreamy entrails! 

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