lion stalking for that running gazelle
leopard living for throat of a zebra
heron motionless at the edge of the pool
with quick beak prepared, poised to kill
hawk with deadly talons held closer
to heart, watching in the grass below
a large enough target to a quick plunge
and equipped to hold, poised to kill
surrounded by impulses for violence
i wonder whether i should simply
surrender to that principle: nothing
lives unless something is poised to die
