I saw a blue heron
stepping with intent precision
through my fogged up sleep.
movement odd, off
(it's always wrong, it's always off)
with too long legs, proportions run askew.
maybe that's the exchange
the kind of grace
where you can feel the push
(pulling back to punch brick walls, but not too hard.)
(you wouldn't want to hurt someone.)
composed of tensed sinews, taut muscles.
that predatory focus
held, released.
the frog might
(urge for a little blood pulled past the surface, a bit of scraped knuckle)
have felt it coming but late
by just enough.
Sometimes they get away
(it's not a trap you can gnaw out of)
frogs are also good at this
predators in their own right.
(try anyway, spend energy you haven't got)
maybe it's about control
too fast and the frog will sense it
so going slow
(you wouldn't want to go too far)
is probably for the best.
weighing the calorie expenditure
there isn't a lot to waste
(actually, you always want to do that)
another meal struck off the list
and a little kid watches-
stricken. fascinated.
wants, like a hunger, to see it again.
(again and again and again)