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Poetry from NHI publications

TOOTH FOR A TOOTH
in a swift arrowed flight the kestrel takes station hovering high above the heath in the clear air he balances eyes keen eyes searching eyes alert for movement of a sudden he dives almost as if he hurtles to his death just above ground he stretches wing and extends claw soon he is perched on the gnarled pine tearing the guts red and bulging from the small mouse all the time his sharp eye rings his horizons all the watchers are watched in this neat arrangement of nature
MALCOLM PAYNE

TOOTH FOR A TOOTH

in a swift arrowed flight
the kestrel takes station
hovering high above the heath

in the clear air
he balances
eyes keen
eyes searching
eyes alert for movement

of a sudden he dives
almost as if he hurtles
to his death

just above ground
he stretches wing
and extends claw

soon he is perched
on the gnarled pine
tearing the guts
red and bulging
from the small mouse

all the time
his sharp eye rings his horizons

all the watchers are watched
in this neat arrangement
of nature

MALCOLM PAYNE

from
New Hope International New Series #6

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This page last updated: 24th November 2005.