Winter creeps across the land
where mighty oaks and birch trees stand
and insects hid beneath the ground
face certain death if they are found
by mice or rats...and foxes too
nature's food chain survival glue.

But up above then canopy
buzzards hunt by two or three
they square the ground on high patrol
in search of rabbit or tasty vole
life's bitter struggle is borne this way
the same tomorrow as yesterday.

And as the winter creep moves on
the weakest creatures now all gone
rats and rabbits...mice and voles
bed down for winter in food-stocked holes
yet o'er the land where we draw breath
there's barely sign of this fight with death.

©Joe Wilson - The winter struggle...2015