Upon and Over

Swallows circle.
Jetting dives,
they skim the water
then away.
An intricate play
of circles and spirals
entwine.

Each time they touch
upon the pond
an unseen life
is snatched away.

Spider riding
its own tension,
a fly, a gnat,
some larval form
of buzzing thing

inconvenient
or unpleasant to us
and better gone,
invisible
at this distance.

The swallow
is beautiful,
red head, white breast
blue across its back,
and the elegant
forked tail.

I admire its form
and grace
as I ride home
balanced upon
my own tension.