#beak
suddenly, up out from his hole, the lizard crawled
crawled and wriggled over the dirt searching for it's prey
the prey that would sustain him for the rest of his life
he didn't know that it would be his final meal
he didn't know that behind that cactus stood a roadrunner
a roadrunner, who delights in savory lizard treats right from the desert floor
he had no chance...
the cycle of life circles on as the roadrunner scurries away with the lizard dangling from its beak
Brian Hill - 2020 # 176
Jun 28, 2020
Jun 28, 2020 at 10:13 PM UTC
Tremble
by Michael R. Burch
Her predatory eye,
the single feral iris,
scans.
Her raptor beak,
all jagged sharp-edged ******
juts.
Her hard talon,
clenched in pinched expectation,
waits.
Her clipped wings,
preened against reality,
tremble.
Published by The Lyric, Verses Magazine, Romantics Quarterly, Journeys, The Raintown Review, Poetic Ponderings, Poem Kingdom, The Fabric of a Vision, NPAC—Net Poetry and Art Competition, Poet’s Haven, Listening To The Birth Of Crystals (Anthology), Poetry Renewal, Inspirational Stories, Poetry Life & Times, MahMag (Iranian/Farsi), The Eclectic Muse
Keywords/Tags: Tremble, predator, raptor, hawk, eagle, falcon, talon, beak, wing, preen, preened, preening
Ordinary Love
by Michael R. Burch
Indescribable—our love—and still we say
with eyes averted, turning out the light,
"I love you," in the ordinary way
and tug the coverlet where once we lay,
all suntanned limbs entangled, shivering, white ...
indescribably in love. Or so we say.
Your hair's blonde thicket now is tangle-gray;
you turn your back; you murmur to the night,
"I love you," in the ordinary way.
Beneath the sheets our hands and feet would stray
to warm ourselves. We do not touch despite
a love so indescribable. We say
we're older now, that "love" has had its day.
But that which Love once countenanced, delight,
still makes you indescribable. I say,
"I love you," in the ordinary way.
Winner of the 2001 Algernon Charles Swinburne poetry contest; published by The Lyric, Romantics Quarterly, Mandrake Poetry Review, Carnelian, Poem Kingdom, Net Poetry and Art Competition, Famous Poets and Poems, FreeXpression, PW Review, Poetic Voices, Poetry Renewal and Poetry Life & Times
Mar 16, 2020
Mar 16, 2020 at 5:25 AM UTC
You think
I am a hen
In god's house
There for the plucking
Oh honey
How foolish you are
To think it'd be so easy
To get close to me
My feathers are gold and ivory
And my beak deadly
Moving with pigeon toes
You stumble and trip
You thought this dance
Would be swift
But this is ballet
And you are not my Siegfried
Nov 13, 2020
Nov 13, 2020 at 2:29 AM UTC
And so the shoe drops,
Easily, easily
It’s much easier for you to wound me,
than wear your human mask over lizard skin.
You gnash your teeth and flail your limbs,
like a stupid ******* lizard person.
How hard is it to check in when you’ve said something so worrying?
How hard is it to speak?
Or is it just that words don’t issue,
from betwixt your lizard beak?
Feb 1, 2019
Feb 1, 2019 at 2:15 PM UTC
Like a bird
We have a lot depending on
the right direction.
But Unlike it
We have too many doubts
and questions.
Spread your wings
but don’t span out nervously.
God gave moral compasses
to Guide us personally.
Never be afraid
to go and do your best.
Keeping pulling straws
until you’ve built your nest .
Dec 8, 2018
Dec 8, 2018 at 8:22 AM UTC
a cold winter evening
a haze of blue hangs low
from the thick clouded sky
the bleakness of this day seeps through my skin
and envelopes me.
Jun 20, 2018
Jun 20, 2018 at 5:22 PM UTC
place your hand on my chest
can you feel the rustling?
the almost constant buzzing of the monster growing it's nest?
in moments of stillness I can feel it tunneling through my bones,
until it comes to rest inside my ribcage
waiting to hear it's name called again,
when it will flap it's wings in reply,
shedding feathers under my skin.
once it's awakened it will continue its endeavor
in pecking and pulling,
making more room for itself
and less room for me.
Jan 21, 2018
Jan 21, 2018 at 11:51 PM UTC
Song bird,on the branch on the top,
of my tree of life, you wake me up
with sweet twitter, each day a new one,
to my bitter sighs you give your ears,
day and night and remain my true comfort,
in every change of weather, may it be
monsoon torrent, winter freeze or spreading gloom
Little bird you know this well
never ever would I take you for granted,
you are the spirit that bring me cheer,
keep my nest such a quiet space for peace.
take the fledglings,under your sturdy wings
keep your glad eye on my desires that
seldom sleeps day or night, till it's told.
In this nest, it's your hallow that fills, spills out, too
in every twig of this nest we built, is the mark
of your efficient beak, that worked to move it there!
Petite you are,but it's so deceptive
my talisman and shield, none but you are that,
if my songbird's eyes by chance fill,my heart bleeds!
Nov 1, 2017
Nov 1, 2017 at 1:59 PM UTC
The sharp jagged edge,
An exhausted little beak
Bedraggled feathers.
Mar 10, 2017
Mar 10, 2017 at 3:33 AM UTC