A milvine kite of terrifying aspect
broad wings/sharp talons
suddenly appears gliding
over the skyline cluttered
with the 4-G towers and dish-antennae
the kite — a new threat in the urban centre, hardly seen — earlier by the arial travellers.
Pigeons and crows and house sparrows scatter immediately from steel-wire perches
like leaves before the autumnal wind on a desolate heath, eerie evening, when shadows lengthen to collapse within.
Scared of the bird of prey changing directions
and hovering above the hapless creatures.
The panicky flocks in flight
the stalker in hot pursuit of the
dispossessed, homeless birds
torn away from the retreating forest and now—
part of the daily smog, high-decibel sound and pollution.
On this dim afternoon
running here and there
like the middle-class citizens
fleeing from the terror of a masked figure
appearing and shooting randomly, sans provocation
in public places, almost everywhere.
Both different species tasting urban fear but
unaware of their own numerical strength
against the predators/killers
becoming victims in malls/airports/boulevards
or in the skies…to the glittering eyes and rugged talons.
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