Human: Hawk and Mouse

by Tad Winslow

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A hawk glides in a february gust.

Searching.

Searching to live. For the simple pleasure of a stomach not empty this bird of prey bears frigid winds for food.

Circling above…floating… and then a swift dive and strike.

A mouse, that also fends for morsals, feels talons stab into its sides. Small lungs fill with blood as it’s lifted into the hawk’s airy lair.

Flying, as the last bit of existence bleeds out from its mouth and punctured ribs. Flying as the world fades from its infitesimal eyes: infitesimal being. A mouse that was irrelevant in the world of humans, but means everything in the world of this hawk.

I wonder if we are not like that same hawk destroying what gives us sustenance. Like the air we breathe and pollute. Laying down tar to dry over the same lush nature we grew from.

Like the hawk that tears red, wet strips of meat from bones we tear away the fabric of importance from everything else but ourselves.

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Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. Human: Hawk and Mouse

    Blusparrow's Buddy Icon Blusparrow

    Posted 8 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    this is good! It is true to! We are the like the hawk not only destroying what gives us substance, but always searching for something that will totaly fill us. Don’t we all look for love like the hawk looks for food?

  2. Human: Hawk and Mouse

    J.B. Williams' Buddy Icon J.B. Williams

    Posted 8 months ago

    This is a great metaphorical ficlet. I’ve been trying to write better metaphors and I think I have an idea of how after reading this. Thanks for the inspiration.

  3. Human: Hawk and Mouse

    Lone Writer's Buddy Icon Lone Writer

    Posted 8 months ago

    Wow.
    Very Thoughtful!

  4. Human: Hawk and Mouse

    Mistress Elsha Hawk's Buddy Icon Mistress Elsha Hawk

    Posted 8 months ago

    Awesome metaphoric read! Of course, it was the Hawk in the title that drew me in….LOL. I found it to be wonderfully written. Great work!

    LoA

  5. Human: Hawk and Mouse

    Apostrophe 's Buddy Icon Apostrophe

    Posted 7 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    amazing.. very good story about life. Good metaphor. You use it well. This story has a very powerful message. You engage the reader with a tale of a hawk and mouse.. And that’s where the simplicity ends. I like how the story switches tones in the middle.
    Bravo!

  6. Human: Hawk and Mouse

    flute faerie's Buddy Icon flute faerie

    Posted 7 months ago

    Wowzers, This really makes you think. I love how you put the message into a story.

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