by stella graham-landau
From Nest to Deathbed, Jackie the Eagle Entranced California and Beyond. The bald eagle and her mate gained fame during the pandemic, as a livestream tracked their nesting attempts. She died while being treated for anemia. —The New York Times, August 10, 2026
mated for years
jackie is larger than shadow
her compadre of the skies
both hardwired to protect
each egg each feathered chick
perhaps they met in a playground of clouds
an accidental encounter
not paired by families imagining
a coupling worthy of majesty
they soar
own the sky
build aeries in the tops of giant trees
relying on architectural instinct
carried in their bones
jackie
an unpretentious name
for a mother
tasked to save her species
eons of ancestral instructions
to keep eagles aloft
her compadre of the skies
both hardwired to protect
each egg each feathered chick
perhaps they met in a playground of clouds
an accidental encounter
not paired by families imagining
a coupling worthy of majesty
they soar
own the sky
build aeries in the tops of giant trees
relying on architectural instinct
carried in their bones
jackie
an unpretentious name
for a mother
tasked to save her species
eons of ancestral instructions
to keep eagles aloft
build a nest
mate
lay eggs
hatch
fledge
repeat
stella graham-landau is a poet in richmond va. she has been published on the new verse news and other journals, websites, and anthologies. she loves the generous community of poets she has found online and welcomes conversations with other creators.
