Predator

I wait. Body still, eyes scanning

timber shaped onto meadow

across long shadows. Watching.

Behind, bare trees merge in

to ochre, caramel, cinnamon.

I wait. Body still, eyes scanning

until, with a flick, a lift, a sweeping

of long limbs; I shift down the line

across long shadows. Watching

the way neighbours gather to begin

a fresh survey of the butchers’ ground.

I wait. Body still, eyes scanning

beyond sunlight steadily rising

as amber, saffron, yarrow beams

across long shadows. Watching.

From the field beyond, a lonely figure

emerges oblivious to another presence.

I wait. Body still, eyes scanning

across long shadows. Watching.

2.2.22

©  Craig Muir 2022

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.