Villanelle Nr.13 — Man Versus Machine

High Noon - two protagonists in the sultry air -    
The Prize - a genuine spirited villanelle:    
Man versus Machine - a showdown, fair and square.    
    
Machine moves fast, needs no balls for this programmed dare    
Man sweats, facing inner demons from hell;    
High Noon - two protagonists in the sultry air.    
   
Hi-res cams mark an arc to temples laid bare …    
Man sees an eagle and wonders - what is there to tell?    
Man versus Machine - a showdown, fair and square.    
   
Machine, undistracted, discounts the sudden rare    
event of eagle swooping down for dinner in a dell.    
High Noon - three protagonists in the sultry air.    
   
Eagle crosses the line of fire; see the bullet tear    
through its magnificent feathers - then it fell.    
Bird versus machine - a show-down beyond compare.    
   
Algorithm confused, robot shoots the rabbit in its lair;    
Man comforts dying eagle and sings a tolling bell …    
High Noon - four protagonists in the sultry air    
Life versus machine - a showdown fair and square.