Vulturine Vespers
by Jenny Bates
On the third day without power
they came to roost by the house.
They’re here for me, I shivered.
Kept a close eye as they circled,
landed in the yard.
Someone died in the freak storm,
It was not me.
As the Vulture spread its wings
shrouding, hiding the dead
I fell in love with that embrace.
Later that night, and before expected,
the power came back on.
The world had not ended.
I will return, just like the trees
and the birds.
The cold clasp of sound-wind gone,
sunlight and house-bound vibration
sing our evening vespers once again.
Tide of the forest flows forward, the Vulture’s
frosty breath rises sotto voce
Humans don’t own the Earth.
Yet I hope we have a lovely long Summer
together.
PHOTO: Vultures watching the sunset by Val3re.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jenny Bates is a member of Winston-Salem Writers, North Carolina Poetry Society, and North Carolina Writers Network. Her published books include Opening Doors: an equilog of poetry about Donkeys (Lulu Publishing, NC, 2010), Coyote with Coffee (Catbird on the Yadkin Press, NC 2014), Visitations (Hermit Feathers Press, NC 2019), and Slip, her new collection (Hermit Feathers Press, NC 2020).
Silver Birch Press 
A great honour to be a part of this series, thank you!
wow
*Joan Leotta* Author, Story Performer *“Encouraging words through Pen and Performance”* *Most recent Short story published: The Confession in issue 88 Yellow Mama* *https://blackpetalsks.tripod.com/yellowmama/id2596.html * *Books in Print* *Languid Lusciousness with Lemon, Finishing Line Press* *Morning by Morning and Dancing Under the Moon*, two free mini-chapbooks are at https://www.origamipoems.com/poets/257-joan-leotta *Gifts of Nature, *free chapbook on http://stanzaicstylings.blogspot.com/p/gifts-of-nature-twenty-poems-by-joan.html *For her four out of print novels, collection of short stories and four children’s picture books, contact Joan at this email *
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On Sat, Mar 19, 2022 at 12:40 AM Silver Birch Press wrote:
> silverbirchpress posted: ” Vulturine Vespers by Jenny Bates On the third > day without power they came to roost by the house. They’re here for me, I > shivered. Kept a close eye as they circled, landed in the yard. Someone > died in the freak storm, It was not me. As the Vulture sp” >
and I LOVE the photo!
Jenny, fine poem. Sometimes I do wonder what the vultures are trying to tell me, besides,
“Hey, thanks for the ‘possum.” I believe this poem is becoming my favorite of yours.
Wonderful to see you and hear you read at NC Poetry Society yesterday (3/19). Peace and connections . . . —B
❤❤
Thank you for the comments, as I am ever grateful!