On this first Autumn day,

I sit on my back porch

watching leaves and pine needles

fall into the pond.

(In truth, they have been coming down

for three weeks now,

what with the hurricane and one misnamed

“tropical storm “

and early yellowing,

for Natures first death is gold….)

(Thanks, Robert!)

and on the opposite bank,

sunning with five muddy turtles,

a young alligator,

six feet long, maybe,

though I have not used the tape measure…

Yesterday, I watched this new arrival

to our peaceful pond

slide into the water from her sunning spot,

stalk and snatch a water snake

I had not seen slithering across the pond.

(Maybe it was an eel.

I cannot say for certain)

and with a few snaps of jaw,

chopped the snake to pieces

and swallowed the fellow raw.

(thanks, Emily!)

All but one sliver

still clinging to the gator’s snout.

(Well, of course!)

How else but raw?

The gator is not dexterous enough

to cook her meal on the propane grill

I use for burgers or London Broil!)

Then she sank out of sight,

submerging to digest her snake snack, perhaps?

(I did not dare to ask!)

Yes, that slaughter was yesterday.

Today, she’s back in her sunny spot,

seeming to sleep,

but always on a constant search for lunch.

(Well! Of course!)

She has no Food Lion

in which to fight the crowds and use her coupons

to buy pre-slaughtered meat

on sale to eat!)

There have been a few species of Heron,

Blue, White, Green

and an Ibis or three

here on the pond,

hunting for little shiners, and cabs and frogs,

but not since the gators arrival.

I am glad they’ve spied her.

I would hate to see a Great Blue

yanked under the water in a splash

of red cloud and feathers….

although the ever watchful Vultures,

forever circling high above the carnage

would, sooner or later,

float down to clean up the mess.

Any heron remains, if any remaining in reach.

Vultures are birds, of course,

so I would watch them also,

though repulsed.

They are such ugly creatures,

bulbus, pink heads, dripping with heron blood.

I might not even yell to warn them off

if the gator rose from the depths

to grab a busy scavenger by the tail feathers

for dessert….

But then,

I am just a bird watcher,

not a God

and everyone has to eat.

“