Near Miss

Photo by Andrew Ly on Unsplash

Predators miss more often than we know.
Hawks may strike a mere glancing blow.
Sharks grow confused in schools of silverfish.
Wolves go hungry more often than they wish.

Chance and change will sometimes intercede,
and the hunter overlook a tantalizing lead,
or stumble past a trail not long grown cold
where a wild heart strayed a scant moment ago.