An Understanding

An Understanding

A dog flies at the flock, which mounts the air
like a huge, blaring, squawking herbivore
in search of forage. A great thunder-roar
emerges from below. Amid the glare
of winter sun as red as a ruby eye,
they catch sight of what seems to be a hawk
in silhouette. It rushes at the flock
tornado-like and wipes them from the sky.

Out of that sky the Airbus starts to drop,
its matching maws now choked and gorged with feather
and flesh. Sadly, there is no magic tether
from hawk to heaven to make its swan dive stop.
A cymbal clash proclaims a brutal landing
as man and bird come to an understanding.

(Originally appeared in 14 by 14)