Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s challenge and Bird of the Week: Brown Snake Eagle #poetry #photography #birds

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My bird of the week is the brown snake eagle. I have combined my freestyle poem, followed by a micro poem, to include Esther Chilton’s writing prompt of leaves which you can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/10/22/writing-prompts-88/ and Don’t Hold Your Breath’s bird of the week challenge which you can join in here: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2025/10/28/barn-swallow-birds-of-the-week-invitation-cxl/

Brown Snake Eagle in a Tree

bone-like fingers spread

in earnest supplication

acknowledging power

of feathered predator

rising out of the leaves

a commanding king

beware all snakes

whether harmless or

venomous; large or small

this king is indiscriminate

views each and all as prey

biting and spitting

quite irrelevant

from boomslang to

adult black mambas

measuring up to 2.8 metres

in spectacular length

none are spared

this superb hunter’s

vicious talons and

ferocious beak which

decapitates its quarry

swiftly and mercilessly

before decimating the body

consuming its meal

in delicious, large chunks

***

sap green leaves rustle

complimenting brown feathers

of predator king

Picture caption: Brown Snake Eagle
Picture caption: I really like this picture of a brown snake eagle with its head turned backwards

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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70 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s challenge and Bird of the Week: Brown Snake Eagle #poetry #photography #birds”

  1. A lovely, descriptive poem and fantastic shots, Robbie. I love seeing eagles and hawks. I didn’t know of the brown snake eagle, which looks smaller than our bald eagles, but just as fierce!

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  19. I love the poem. You have so many highly venomous snakes in South Africa. I watch Jason Arnold, Snake-Handler wrestle Black Mambas out of people’s homes in South Africa. He really demystifies the snake as super being aggressive, chasing people down. I had a geography professor who had done his PhD studies in Africa. He swore that Black Mambas would chase you when you were riding a bike, hop on your bike, and bite at the tires. I told him he was full of it, but he swore to it.

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  27. Although its diet is somewhat yucky, the bird is gorgeous.

    Also, your poetry is not yucky, it’s terrific.

    I learn something whenever I come here.

    Thank you, Robbie!

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  30. Wonderfully descriptive, Robbie. If ever there were a bird that looks like a “predator king,” this one would do it! What a regal bearing it has!

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