Illustration from Alice in Wonderland‘Natura Naturans’ and Other Poetry by Terry Norton The Society July 16, 2019 Culture, Humor, Poetry 4 Comments Natura Naturans “Off with their heads,” the Red Queen said. But she was mostly talk. A true decapitator is The little sharp-shin hawk. I saw one once, a blue-bolt shot, To seize a thrush in flight, Then with steel talons pluck the head And calmly take a bite. True Worth Homeless, he lived beneath an overpass. Now dead, he rivals Gates and Bezos’ class. Terry L. Norton is professor emeritus of literacy education at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he taught courses in literature for children and young adults. Publications include the following books: Cooking with Mother Goose, 50 Literacy Strategies for Beginning Teachers K-8, and Cherokee Myths and Legends: Thirty Tales Retold. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: 4 Responses James Sale July 16, 2019 Very sharp, very enjoyable. Thanks. Reply Amy Foreman July 16, 2019 Loved these pithy little verses, Terry! Well done! Reply C.B. Anderson July 16, 2019 Terry, I’ve seen a sharp-shin hawk in my own back yard. It’s welcome to all the sparrows it can catch, but if it ever flies off with my beloved cardinal, then it shall quickly learn what it means to be preyed upon. Nice stuff, and I hope to see more in the fullness of time. Reply David Watt July 17, 2019 Terry, I am more familiar with the deadly precision of peregrine falcons. However, your verse, featuring the sharp-shin hawk, brings to mind my memory of this vision. Well done! Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
C.B. Anderson July 16, 2019 Terry, I’ve seen a sharp-shin hawk in my own back yard. It’s welcome to all the sparrows it can catch, but if it ever flies off with my beloved cardinal, then it shall quickly learn what it means to be preyed upon. Nice stuff, and I hope to see more in the fullness of time. Reply
David Watt July 17, 2019 Terry, I am more familiar with the deadly precision of peregrine falcons. However, your verse, featuring the sharp-shin hawk, brings to mind my memory of this vision. Well done! Reply
