Unequal Contest - edit2

[dukealien]

edit;

Unequal Contest


A crow harassed a red-tailed hawk today,
black gestures twisting, flapping hard sometimes;
at others, canny turns against soft blue.
Crow tacked on escalator-steps of air
and struggled to gain place above, in front
of raptor which, gray swimmer in smooth sky,
responded lazily on banking wings.
Each time the striving crow had almost gained
position to attack, to stoop, to nip,
the heavy hawk – designed for lethal strikes
with catching talons, hardened sickle beak -
extended, turning altitude to speed
and left the crow behind, a blowing chuff
of chaff not worth attacking but endowed
with wild ambition, laughter in the face
of unconcerned assurance, mortal grace.

---

Thanks to both critics.  Among other changes, I introduced an article or two and toned down "the lesson" at the end a bit.  It came out only one line shorter, but - more animated?  And I took myself, and my viewpoint, out.

I had somehow missed the Hopkins sonnet.  And being too rule-bound to appreciate it anyway, did not mean to emulate.