Vultures Circling Vultures

Flightless hopes that couldn't matter

twined around the bones and clattered

of the silent swooping stares

of those who perched and couldn't dare

Their flock mates with naked heads

feasted on the just dropped dead

and all of their feast's hopes and prayers

of vultures who perched and couldn't dare

The beginning of hatching in the sun

shaming their benevolent mothers, every one

of the silent swooping stares

of dreaming vultures that just won't dare

Their flock mates grew fat and loud

fearless, terrible but not proud

The others just perched and compared

the past to their hopes down there

Swiveled and shriveled

the last perching vulture scribbled

a curse to potential prayers

for those who think life and death are fair