standoff

The gossiping owl

Whose wisdom evades her.

The stalking fox who has had enough.

There is nowhere to run or hide

Close proximity with

No need to fly

With clipped wings

Because the fox's traps are precise and well-practised.

I wonder where the plots and plans came from,

Whose claws sharpened the scissors

And studied the behaviours of owls, routinely;

Knowing where to strike clean and true

Through the glass confidence; sprinkled diamonds.

We see clearly once more.

No more stark differences

No more aimed crossbows -

Close proximity, protective.

The defenseless hissing of the queen who should know better

Than to lie to a fox's face when she expected change.

Dismiss it, the owl's soft pain;

It's important now to show the fox your scars

To prove that there's reason exempt from the sharpened nets and ties

That you are not just like the rest of those liars the fox knows well.

~