Birds of Prey

Remedios Varo

Aves

Birds of Prey

Their shadow dims the sunshine of our day,

As they go lumbering across the sky,

Squawking in joy of feeling safe on high,

Beating their heavy wings of owlish gray.

They scare the singing birds of earth away

As, greed-impelled, they circle threateningly,

Watching the toilers with malignant eye,

From their exclusive haven--birds of prey.

They swoop down for the spoil in certain might,

And fasten in our bleeding flesh their claws.

They beat us to surrender weak with fright,

And tugging and tearing without let or pause,

They flap their hideous wings in grim delight,

And stuff our gory hearts into their maws.

~ Claude McKay ~

The Owls

René Magritte

The Companions of Fear

The Owls

Under the overhanging yews,

The dark owls sit in solemn state,

Like stranger gods; by twos and twos

Their red eyes gleam. They meditate.

Motionless thus they sit and dream

Until that melancholy hour

When, with the sun's last fading gleam,

The nightly shades assume their power.

From their still attitude the wise

Will learn with terror to despise

All tumult, movement, and unrest;

For he who follows every shade,

Carries the memory in his breast,

Of each unhappy journey made.

~ Charles Baudelaire ~