Under altostratus clouds
faded blue sky,
a predator swirls, drifts about,
blue gray eye searches for prey,
noises loud, high pitched call, warns
monkeys down below, exudes fear,
screams, swings from tree to tree
away from marauding stare,
so swift, lightning speed, swoops,
in minute hard earned prize
Colugo, civets, snakes, lizards
are its other favorites gourmet
shaggy crest on crown, haughty,
adorned with long brown feathers,
resembles mythical gryphon,
dark face, creamy brown nape,
posterior dark brown, underside,
underwings, white, legs heavy,
yellow, powerful large dark claws,
huge deep bill, high arched bluish gray
Wingspan a couple meters, world’s largest
that ever live on earth today,
a dominant hunter in virgin forest,
specie’s flight fast and agile
echos smaller birds of chase,
a national emblem, national pride
Pearl of the Orient yet
vanishing Haribon refuses to die,
choosing endless escape
down Pacific blue horizon
Noel Horlanda
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-bird-king-great-philippine-eagle/
