The Silver Snag

On the brittle branch of an old silver snag
an eagle perches and watches the river.
Sharp eyes search the ripples abundant
with rainbow trout just below depths.
When the sun shines just right the trout
begins to jump and the eagle feeds.

The offspring of this old fur spring up
all around. Other trees lay crisscrossed
randomly like jackstraws on the forest floor.

At the base squirrels scamper into bored holes,
but the wood beatles have long gone
since the life sustaining sugars no longer
pass their way to the once proud branches.

The eagle swoons rapidly and captures
an arching trout in mid flight. He returns
to the branch he swooped from to feed.

The wind kicks up the dead tree groans
as if trying to return to life. A branch
breaks off and falls to the floor.
Squirrel's take flight then return as the slow
cycle of life and death continues on.