The Mechanical Beast

A sea of soaring souls dip and flutter
Through this wall of glass
Somehow, in all its rapid chaos
There is serenity

A roaring is heard in the distance
And even the woodpecker shudders more than usual
Drilling a hole with the sound of pure terror

And the snarling grows louder - spitting, growling, snapping
Approaching with incomprehensible force
Faster, still
Shoving winter's tears aside
Parting them like the Red Sea

Every creature is hiding from this unknown beast
And they tremble, desperately pleading with their feathers
Willing their slippery coat
To defeat the trepidation

Suspense, stillness, and then
A whir, and it flies past them
Emerging out of the assorted variations of blue
Mere inches away, a blur in the center of time
Spraying them with its crystal venom

A shower heavier than the last, as if a storm had swept over

And the monster continues forward
The bellowing ceases with distance

There is stillness

Absolute stillness

Sly glances
Heads peeking out
And the shreds of down continue to fall
Slowly the chaos is resumed

Again, everything is peaceful