Falcon

you fly high above
seeming without care or responsibility.
do as you please
land and sleep
drop white feces on unsuspecting people
then you see it
over the water
a small speck
almost invisible
with a slight turn of wings you dive
   faster and faster
      streaking past craggy
         grey cliffs toward hazy
            blue water
               opening your golden beak
                  crying a shrill cry.
                     yellow talons spread wide
                        ready to capture the hunted
                           your flight of nearly impossible speeds
                              brings the prey into your deadly claws
                           just in time to pull up
                        swiftly skimming over the surface of the sea,
                     whitecaps barely missing your tan feathers with salt-
                  and-pepper overtones
               you slow and rise toward the nest
            lazily you land to enjoy the feast of your mad charge
you deserve it
fastest of all creatures
if only for a moment
Beautiful Peregrine

		jp-dr