On oceanic islands
under endless sky
many birds evolve without
the ability to fly.
The Inaccessible Island Rail,
the Stephens Island Wren,
the Réunion Sacred Ibis
and St Helena Swamphen:
all flightless; nearly all extinct;
but none were stranger than
the Flightless Falcon that once lived
on an island near Japan.
It was a ruthless hunter,
and would perch upon a rock
until below there waddled past
a Flightless Pigeon flock.
It swooped down at its prey;
and if it missed it then
it walked back over to its rock
and clambered up again.