Aloft he floats, with arching wings out spread, Serene, yet watchful, in the summer sky, Acme of power controlled, Sea-creatures dread Encounter with his distance-piercing eye. Now, with fast-beating wings, he checks his way Gathering himself to make the fatal swoop, To drop upon his unsuspecting prey -- A falling plummet in a finny troop. Figure of cruel grace, rapacious, sure, Sky denizen of powerful wing and eye -- Who shall forbid his struggle to endure? His right to hunt for food, who shall deny? So he sails calmly on into the blue With admiration as his rightful due. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CHAM TOWERS AT DA NANG by KAREN SWENSON THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE GLOW-WORM by WILLIAM COWPER THE GROANS OF THE TANKARD by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD A NEW PILGRIMAGE: 26 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT TO RODIN'S STATUE OF AN OLD COURTESAN by GERTRUDE CALLAGHAN |