Osprey

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An Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) preparing to dive at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. It stares intently at prey as it extends its talons. Osprey nests are found throughout the Kennedy Space Center and nearby Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: photo by NASA, 10 June 2004 (NASA)

 
I think he'll be to Rome
As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it
By sovereignty of nature.

-- William Shakespeare: Coriolanus, IV.5


Domination is not a pretty thing
though in the non-human world
natural. Lesser before greater
must make way, and when enters
into the equation the reversible talon
that allows the osprey
to rotate the helpless prey
with great efficiency
as it is consumed, the unarguable
point is made. Power
needs no logic, fair
is not a term
in its vocabulary;
and when threatened
innocence cries out to justice
for mercy, there comes back only
silence upon the thermal currents
of the inexhaustible dominion
of the air.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Table Mountain (Skamania County, Washington): photo by Walter Siegmund, 18 April 2010

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Table Mountain (Skamania County, Washington): photo by Walter Siegmund, 18 April 2010



Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Table Mountain (Skamania County, Washington): photo by Walter Siegmund, 18 April 2010

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Bradford Island Viewpoint, Bonneville Dam: photo by Walter Siegmund, 18 April 2010

Osprey with fish, Strand State Beach near Azure Street, Morro Bay, California: photo by Mike Baird, 12 October 2006