Credit: Philadelphia Museum of Art The Muriel and Philip Berman Gift, acquired from the John S. Phillips bequest of 1876 to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, with funds contributed by Muriel and Philip Berman, gifts (by exchange) of Lisa Norris Elkins, Bryant W. Langston, Samuel S. White 3rd and Vera White, with additional funds contributed by John Howard McFadden, Jr., Thomas Skelton Harrison, and the Philip H. and A.S.W. Rosenbach Foundation, 1985
She glides,
elegant, her
wings whisper feathered hopes,
listen. . .she hoots a warning call,
beware
fierce claws
grasping rabbit–
stunning, horrid nature!
Predator and prey in moonlit
death dance.
A Crapsey cinquain sequence for Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday. using synonyms for pretty and ugly.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
You have captured the owl well with strong poetic words.
Thank you very much, Frank!
Imagery so vivid, I have to wonder if you actually saw the predator in action. Hmmm
Thank you very much, Marian. I’m glad it seemed so vivid to you. I have seen hawks do this, but not an owl, but the owl worked better for the poem. 🙂
Nicely done, Merril!
Thank you, Jill!
I love this poem Merril, the Owl is a mystical creature and you have explored that magic with your words. You know I love Bird poems and often use birds in my own poetry. This is majestic, so fitting for the Owl.
Thank you so much, Holly! 🙂
So true, this is just lovely!
❤
Love the descriptions 💕
Thank you very much!
My pleasure 💖
The poetic truth of nature.
Thank you, Ken.
I’d love to see an owl big enough to catch a rabbit. Must be so impressive.
I saw a hawk get a rabbit–but baby rabbit, not one of your big hares. 🙂 I imagine a big owl could do the same.
Looking them up on wikipedia it seems that our tawny owls can catch young rabbits. I’d love to see an eagle owl though. I bet they could catch adult rabbits easily.
I would love to see any owl flying by, but I can do without seeing the struggling creatures.
They tend not to struggle once they know they’re caught, but I agree, seeing something die is never pleasant (for people who are normally constituted).
Yes. . .
Very concise and clear imagery. I love it!
Thank you very much, Luanne!
“stunning horrid nature.” Exactly how we feel when we watch a glorious gorgeous creature kill a smaller, lesser creature with no emotion, yet it’s what she/he is supposed to do, and needs to do to survive. Your words hit hard, just as you intended.
Thank you very much, Pam!
‘wings whisper feathered hopes’ – wonderful
Thank you very much, Derrick!
Wonderfully done! I can just picture the “scene”…
Thank you very much, Dale. 🙂
🙂
Ah, this poem gave me chills! I love owls (of course) and hearing their hoots is like getting a call from an old friend. I’ve never seen them capture prey, although they are a reason why our cats are indoor cats.
Thank you so much, Marie. That my poem gave you chills is quite a compliment.
(Our cats are strictly indoor cats, too, for a number of reasons.)
Splendid capture of nature and our own humanity in this piece, Merril. I do love your phrase about nature being stunning, yet horrid. Great wordplay and opposites! ❤
Thank you very much, Colleen!
You’re welcome. ❤️
Pingback: Colleen’s 2019 #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge Recap No. 135, #SynonymsOnly – The Faery Writer