The Eye

The peacock feather
has one eye,
and I have
always wondered why.

Does it help
to better see,
or simply help
the mating plea?

Can it keep
 predators at bay,
or attract females
with its display?

And the colors
are they real,
or just painted
with artists' zeal?



Feather

Out in a pasture
In the middle of nowhere
Lying on the ground
A lone feather.

Long and thin
Dark black with blue tints
Tipped with white
Worn by the weather.

 Somewhere a lone bird
Unaware of its loss
Eating its dinner
In a field of heather.



December Morn

Crisp cold December morn
  Pink sky turning blue.
On dark silent wings   
Horned owl homeward flew.

No hunters in sight 
Two young bucks spar
Showing no fright
Shy doe watches from afar.

Tree top turkeys begin to wake
Dark spots against the sky. 
Waiting for day to break
To take wing and fly.


Red Velvet

Tiny as a pin head
Hiding underground,
Bright velvet red
None can be found.

Rain pounds the ground
Like stars in the night
Everywhere to be found
The red velvet mite.



Trails

Trails of all sizes
Crisscross the ground.
Signs of wild life
everywhere to be found.

Trails from an ant hill
wonder through the grass.
Sit back and watch
scores of workers pass.

Rabbit trails scattered about
Marking travels from their den,
To food and water
And back home again.

Deer trails lead to a fence,
Imagine the perfect grace
As they fly gently over
Almost suspended in space.



Cow Shadows



Out in a pasture on a cool cloudy afternoon
Stood a small herd of white cattle.
A short way off stood an equal number
Of smaller black cattle.

As the sun began to peek through
The black cattle rapidly returned 
To the white cattle, and the herd became one
As the shadows rejoined their owners. 


Box of Books


A box of books
For rent , sale, trade.
Murder mystery and romance
For passing the day.

Tall blonde, sun tanned
Making her daily bread.
Very mysterious and romantic
Living life her way.

Beach sun all day
Disco fun all night.
Summer spent on Mykonos
Winter works in London.

Every young man’s dream
Beautiful, smart and tanned.
Envied by the women
Wishing they were her.