Without Fear

Without Fear


Once, the earth was raw,
With lands and life and dreams,
A golden season of birth,
A bittersweet time of rejoicing,
And once eagles lived,
Without fear.


Once, man and bird nested,
Disturbing not the other life,
Knowing what was theirs,
Respecting rules and rights,
And once eagles hunted,
Without fear.

Once, men traveled slowly,
From east and north and south,
In numbers as great as sheep,
Filling lands, but not skies,
And once eagles mated,
Without fear.

Once, steel nests paved the towns,
And what had been became fewer,
Smoke and smut pawed the air,
Engulfing all in its path,
And eagles knew and waited,
Without fear.

Once, men fought and died,
Until there was no one left to kill,
Shadows hung, deep and dark,
Earth lay barren and empty,
And once a few eagles were left to die,
Without fear***