I mind my feet while on walks these days because I live in a rural area. There are no sidewalks and often there is no place to walk but on a narrow street. However, every now and then I stop and look skyward . . . At the clouds, at the moon, at a passing plane and sometimes, at a bird on a wire.

I stopped to observe this fellow for a while. Still as a statue was he. And then I continued on with my walk.

One of my neighbors had a curious pile of stones sitting in his delightfully overgrown garden. Perhaps the resting place of a favorite fur baby? Who knows. Otherwise the neighborhood is typically suburban. I can’t prove that to you because, as I’ve complained about before, most of my neighbors have cameras mounted on their garages or over their front doors taking nonstop of pictures of anything that moves. I’m just paranoid enough to imagine seeing my face flashed all over social media with the caption “Do you know this sick pervert taking pictures of my front yard?”

Things have gotten quite nuts as I’m sure most of you would agree.

On my way back home I noticed the hawk was still perched on the wire but not for long. Before I could adjust my camera (iPhone) on him, he’d swooped down into a garden, thrashed about a few minutes and then returned triumphant. This time facing me proudly clutching his prey.

Yes, I know. Poor snake. Hissing and striking at the hawk to no avail. The hawk, bidding his time, takes time to pose.

Then returns to the task of preparing a meal. It’s a sad business but to live we all must eat.

I decided not to watch final scene but continue on.

To mind my feet as I returned along a rural path.