Hawk In Sun

1. Confession

A red-tailed hawk flies over.
I hear its cry

wild and free as if in ecstasy.
Alone it flies,

the power of its gyring is sky,
and I know that I

will never be so harsh or so free.
Too much I try

to deny my fear and my guilt,
too much pretend
my death will fulfill obligations.

2. Prayer

Red hawk, spread your tail of fire,
set the sky aflame,

burn the world and its love of possessions,
the same old same

of passive
and hate-filled aggression;

let desire frame
the giving of self and the taking,

all hidden shame
dissolve and dry up like rain.

Red eye, proclaim
my body the field of your hunt
and my heart your prey.

3. Acceptance

Then, Hawk, be the voice of my father,
say all is well
with my son wherever he flies;

say the endless well
of sky, when drunk, is forever;

that all life rides
like you the welling of desire;

that the gyres we churn
mark a pendulum’s tireless swinging;

that your tail’s bright flame
burns clean every loss, every winning

so that what remains
is clean slate of each day’s beginning:

Slate by slate. That’s all.