feeding the birds

my cousin carol out on the ranch
had a bounty of wildlife on her land
elk, deer, cougars, coyotes, and wolves
all spotted and wondered over
as long as the livestock were safe

and one winter some pheasants arrived
with proud green heads and luxurious feathers
she fed them each morning
the came regularly
to feed on the bounty she provided
and she would watch
as their jerky heads pecked
and prodded the corn
at the end of her dirt road

one morning she looked out
and amongst the pheasant throng
she thought she noticed
two large brown dogs
curious to see if they were wild or tame
she cautiously walked out her front door
on getting closer she stood amazed

what she thought were dogs
were two large golden eagles
who came to prey
on the pheasants she attracted

i guess what she realised was harsh
but true
what she was feeding
was easier prey
to get eaten itself
and how she dealt with it
i never heard

in nature the plan is balanced
but cruel
though we try to amend it
it makes it's own rules
sometimes we need to look and not touch
not change what we see
just watch