Proud Hawk

A mottled

brown and white hawk

swoops low

in front of me

carrying

a prone prairie dog.

The lifeless body

of the rodent

dangles from 

the hawk's talon

as it alights

 - one taloned -

on the chain link fence

beside the path,

beside me.

"Hey, look at me!"

His beady-eyed stare shouts.

"I'm a mighty raptor,

see my prey!"

The hawk

lifts

the limp vermin

once more

then takes flight.

Its mottled 

brown and white form 

recedes

over the desert.