Senses on alert
eyes peeled
searching without moving
in the falling light

The forest is still
silence reigns
from my perch high in an oak tree
watching and waiting

Snap, I hear
rustle, rustle
snap, leaf litter searched
more of the same in the distance

Movement coming my way
small, brown hair with stripes
three possibilities
sniff, close now

There just underneath me
I stand and extend claws
leap from the tree
seven feet to the ground

Teeth gnash and tear
a high pitch scream
Aawheeeeeeeeeee
pierces the night

Clamping down with my jaws
the sickening crack of vertebrae
and the final kicks of life
climbing back to my perch

A meal is served of piglet
enjoying every morsel
I relax and take a bath
tongue and paws and maw cleaned

With a contented purr
I settle back in to wait
on the next meal
to cross my path