I'm hauling a bin of prunings
and clippings when a bald eagleflies by low. With one quick
side-glance, it unnerves me.
Such a sure bird, dark and big-
shouldered, yellow-clawed
like a dragon, its wide wings
like a glider's. Those white
head-feathers surround cold
binocular eyes, microscopic
if need be, as when the eagle
parks above water, wings wide,
not moving, not straining, absolute
mastery of air-currents. And
the bird with the wrecking
beak looks down. Sees
the necessary fish. Dives.
Bound to land, I pull
the bin like a large draught horse,
heavy-footed, and a breeze
teases my cap.
hans ostrom 2023
