Friday, January 08, 2010

Entry #62

Nature Is Cruel
by David Barber


I watch you circling, your beauty and elegance gliding with ease on the uplift of cold winter air. The crows harass you, attacking you in two’s and three’s, trying to ruin your flight, but you take no notice. You could take them easily with your razor sharp talons, your strength and your split second timing. You are an aerial warrior, a gladiator of the skies.

But, today, you are no match for me. I plummet from high above, reaching speeds that you could only dream of. The bird watchers, busy getting their cameras and tripods ready, would think this to be something to behold; a peregrine falcon attacking another bird of prey, especially a large buzzard. But they are wrong.

Pushing speeds of three hundred kilometres an hour, I reach you within seconds, my talons splaying at the very last second. I hit the crow, claws first. It was coming in on your blind side, but is now falling to the earth, its neck broken and bleeding.

I would never attack you. Again, I have protected you and I will continue to do so. I will continue to love you also, yet nature is cruel and will never allow us to be together.

38 comments:

Sarah Laurenson said...

Ah love, in another unrequited form. Well done.

PJD said...

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon!

I especially like the description of the audience.

Lee Hughes said...

"a gladiator of the skies" loved that line and the image it promotes. Great piece Dave.

Bernita said...

A most unusual love story!

Rachel Green said...

lovely images!

wrath999 said...

Great imagery and voice. Very well done

Paul D Brazill said...

Quite lovely with strong images.

David Barber said...

Thanks people. It's not what I normally write, but I was pleased with the outcome.

Regards, David.

Laura said...

It took me a few moments to switch gears. Like you said, not your normal style.
I really loved it though! I'm a sucker for a 'love that can never be' type of story.

I enjoyed this. Well done David!

((Hugs))
Laura

MRMacrum said...

Great twist on the image David. But why is it crows always get the bad press? I think Blue Jays are the avian version of trailer trash.

Man, didn't this big pool draw a lot of swimmers this time?

JaneyV said...

David I think your love story is incredibly touching. Thank you for that.

Aniket Thakkar said...

The forbidden fruit is always the sweetest. :)

Liked the end a lot.

Mike Wilkerson said...

That was pure poetry, David. You went outside your box and it paid off in a major way. Congratulations!

Lena said...

Interesting love story. Very moving.

Aimee Laine said...

Oh! Be together! Be together!

David Barber said...

Thanks for your comments. I really appreciate them.

regards, David.

Craig said...

Nice take.

AM-C said...

Lovely! In love but cannot be together. Damn the laws of man and/or nature. :(

Cormac Brown said...

Well done, David. Well done.

Kartik said...

Love knows no bounds!

Alan Griffiths said...

Beautifully written David. Great stuff.

Michael Solender said...

This is a tightly written piece. Good economy of words and fine descriptive voice. Just the right tone and air, Nicely done.

catvibe said...

The Falcon who loved the Buzzard. It's almost like beauty and the beast but turned around! I love it!

Commander Zaius said...

Great story, glad the crow bought it. Damn things creep me out.

laughingwolf said...

love does take many forms...

kashers said...

Yes, nature is cruel. As can be love.

Meghan said...

Such beautiful imagery...

Laurel said...

The Romeo and Juliet of the feathered set.

I like the visual of the dive and the crow being struck...very powerful!

David Barber said...

Thanks to everyone for commenting.

sandra seamans said...

Nicely done, David!

Charmaine said...

I so understand this. The impossibility of some love.

Especially when you're a hawk. I mean, a girl has to eat.

Chris Eldin said...

Creative and charming, and well written! We used to live in the Emirates, where the falcon is revered. Nicely captured.

Lily Childs said...

Laurel said it first: avian Romeo and Juliet.

There is nothing so protective as the power of love, even unrequited, or perhaps that should be, 'especially when' unrequited.

Very nicely told.

Angel Zapata said...

Your perspective on this piece rocks, David. I could feel the wind on my face as I read it.

Crafty Green Poet said...

I love this perspective on impossible love

EC said...

I watch this event often in my neighborhood - the crows dive bombing the hawks, who absolutely are aerial warrior, a gladiator of the skies - excellent rendition.

Terri said...

I love the voice in this story.
And I love that it's a love story :)

james r tomlinson said...

The switch from omnipotent narrator to first person was troubling.