eagle flew out from behind

a brick post

dripping with ice

and it flew to the rhythm

of the big digger

in the lot next door

psssshhhh…. guuuhhhh… psssshhhh

without dipping a greeting

or passing along any comfort

– that’s not it’s damned job –

I stood as a crowd filed

past and around and I watched

as talons tucked, wings spread,

the flight going higher into cold layers

leaving me peeking behind

a brick post,

the digger operator pretending not to notice

my awkwardness