'a deadly game'.

i composed this about nine years ago. it's about the deadly game of life, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose... hope you like it.

'a deadly game'.
the keenest eyes watch from aloft,
scanning grassy verge,
merest movements from below,
trigger downward surge.
waiting, checking, making sure,
nothing left to chance,
the darting vole, still unaware,
leads a merry dance.
hovering, hanging on the wind,
head fixed with constant stare,
body, ever slightly shifting,
balancing on air.
through tussocks, leaves and daisies,
the hapless vole does scurry,
but to make it home and safety,
he will surely need to hurry!...
too late this time, his luck all spent,
his 'end' is almost nigh,
as the dashing little falcon, plummets from the sky.
outstretched talons seal the kill,
life snuffed, 'neath mantled wings,
is nature cruel?,
no, surely not,
'tis just the 'way of things',
once again, with wings unfurled, the kestrel takes to flight,
with precious morsel held below,
grasped in talons tight.
one life extinct, another saved,
and so on, day by day,
the hunter and the hunted,
each with their part to play.
a poem by andrew bradley.