The Hawk

Against a turquoise sky
Sun behind a cloudy wisp,
The hawk circled above me.
I was breathless.

I held out my arm
As it swooped toward me,
Feathers glinting flecks
gold and amber on cream

It perched with gentle ease.
grasping my arm,
breaking my skin,
as piercing eyes locked on mine.
My heart raced at my folly.

With head bowed it invited a touch
so my fingers reached
And I felt its strength, but more
I felt its frailness.

The hawk and I
We aren't so different.