just there to the left of the water bath
and behind the juniper tree
were the remnants of a mourning dove
that earlier, had flown free
 
its feathers lay in disarray
scattered and tossed
they had been ripped out
and its body consumed
 
I was neither sad nor content
at natures display, for it is
as has always been
a cycle of life and there is no mercy
you either survive or are eaten
 
it is only humans that fuss
in our sensible hope to be civilized
it seems we have an inexhaustible supply
to override the system
 
might as well tell the sun not to rise
and the wind to always remain calm
lay down a hand upon mother earth
and demand she not shake at all
 
nature is what will never be tamed
it is an energy force unto itself
sharing both calm beauty and terrifying fury
upon which, we humans, 
may only gawk