Monday, May 4, 2015

Hawks at Dawn



At sunrise three hawks
ride the updrafts,
wide open above the earth,
new sun butter on their bellies.
They disappear amid the sweep of pines,
emerge again in the white-light backdrop,
circling, circling,while the sky above them
warms to ripe peach.
One wobbles, beat its wings,
thrusts toward space
and for an instant
it seems gravity must win,
but digging in, it powers on,
merges with the carry and glide,
an aerodynamic glissade,
birds sliding on air,
coasting on wind and sky.
at

12 comments:

  1. Alex J. CavanaughMay 4, 2015 at 6:41 AM

    I could see them!
    Butter on their bellies. Great way to describe the light. Although it's a good thing they weren't turkeys...

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  2. AnonymousMay 4, 2015 at 6:42 AM

    I love it when the hawks come back. We have quite the population in this area. Lovely poem.....

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  3. Jan MorrisonMay 4, 2015 at 7:23 AM

    What a lovely poem! Those hawks were here for a moment as I read it.

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  4. Madeline Mora-SummonteMay 4, 2015 at 7:58 AM

    Absolutely love the line about the "new sun, butter on their bullies." Just perfect!

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  5. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - MaybeMay 4, 2015 at 8:41 AM

    Just lovely. Your words put picture in my mind.

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  6. Bish DenhamMay 4, 2015 at 9:42 AM

    Oooo, lovely! I know they aren't as "pretty" as hawks, but I love watching the buzzards soar. They are masters of the air currents.

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  7. RobinMay 4, 2015 at 11:17 AM

    Have you noticed that you are sharing more and more poetry on here? I love how you continue to grow and stretch as a writer. (And your poetry is so darn good!)

    In totally unrelated news, after church yesterday we went to the seafood restaurant that we frequent nearly every Sunday (it's so good!). They have paintings scattered around the place. For the first time I noticed one not seen before... it was a boat sitting in the harbor and the sky was orange. Tinting everything orange. It was gorgeous. And still. Reflective. And I thought to myself, "Liza would like this painting." Maybe next week I'll take a picture of the picture!

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  8. Susan Gourley/KelleyMay 4, 2015 at 12:05 PM

    You paint a lovely picture with your words. I never get tired of watching hawks glide through the sky.

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  9. JoanneMay 4, 2015 at 12:23 PM

    I could feel the thrill of the soar. I love the word "glissade" - so pretty and descriptive. Great poem - welcome back. It's been awhile

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  10. Carol KilgoreMay 4, 2015 at 6:45 PM

    I could picture this as I read. Nice.

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  11. Michael Di GesuMay 6, 2015 at 1:10 AM

    Beautiful imagery here, Liza... Nicely written. I can certainly see them.

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  12. ConnieMay 9, 2015 at 4:11 PM

    Birds sliding on air--I really liked that. Lovely poem.

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