Look North:
          A Curlew

A Work in Progress
140

A curlew cries off in the distance and all with ears wait

for an answering cry but time waits no longer 

for our eyes see why the curlew cried

where movement along an unpaved road stirs dust

now a pheasant croaks all the moor is aware

taut time encrusted fears attend a traveler below

within sight of our eyes and technology in the sky

all that matters is survival both sides agree

preparing to stop an intruder’s arrival

is it identifiable does it move with intent?

questions preprogrammed up in the sky

is it an ambulance is that a white flag?

whatever it was it didn’t pass muster

smoke rises over trees where carrion crows cluster

Dick Russell © Richard M Russell

                   2026