Red Tail above Sunset Strip

Everything we do with love will lift us up- together.

Hawk Mother - Pencil on Paper - Beth Fairservis, 2024

Red Tail above Sunset Strip

Walking up the ridge way
A hawk’s call 
breaks through 
my distracted ascent.

I look up fast 
to see the flash of red-tail 
shimmering
in crimson rays
on this day's sunset.

The red fires in the West
on the sunset strip
haunt my plodding steps.
up the step slope.
My heart pulses 
out the losses.

Hawk's shadow
passes over
weaving in and out 
of everything 
that is left standing
in the long light
that is leaving us.

Struggling to balance
I anchor my feet 
on familiar rocks 
taking heightened care 
not to step on
vibrant green worlds 
of moss enrobed in white snow.

I arrive at the crest 
facing East
I see our small home 
down below 
through myriad trees.
I want to rush down 
and close the door 
against the cold truth 
of what we are all facing 
as the world erupts in chaos.

Our glowing wood stove is
emanating warmth from the carefully
split and tended logs of the forest.
For now we get to choose what burns and
what remains to shelter us.

But furious flames
leap out at me from the flat phone world 
in the palm of my hand   
Flashes of massive mansions
turning black, and the people 
standing sooted, stricken and streaked by tears 
evicted by fire
from their small paradise ranches  
in the city of angels.

I have come to the ridge to 
listen to the Mother of Life 
whispering on the wind
She is crying
Thousands of miles away 
the voices of
bear, deer, coyote, cougar,
raccoon, tiny mice and uncountable beings
are laid down
with a few escaping in the arms 
of firemen and women
trudging out of the black.

The Hawk breaks out 
another sharp call
in the gloaming 
of the human story
It calls me 
to leave the barren branches
of my isolating ways
and rise 
with sharp calls
and strong wings
to fly fast
to all that I love.

Hawk tells me
Everything we do with love 
lifts us up together

Even fear can come along
for the flight 
when aligned 
with a clear sight
that infinite love
is what lifts us up
and takes us home



Beth Fairservis,  January 13th, 2025