BEFORE THE VULTURES

By Joan Leotta

Before the Vultures

comes Death himself

riding on the back of one

of his many minions:

cancer, heart failure, accidents

malice of others.

At the oddest times,

when least expected, he

leaps out from behind the guise

of a sun-filled day,

or slips out from

under clouds.

He runs at us,

his aura permeating

joys of spring, summer,

fall, and bleak winter alike.

He raises a spear in

his fist, declaring victory,

over our bodies,

cadavers he leaves

for the vultures after

a poke and thrust.

Death sifts through

each lifeless body for

a soul to enslave.

Sometimes he cannot find one,

since some souls are sold

long before Death arrives,

In those cases, he departs annoyed

that his treasure’s been taken.

Vultures, however, are content

to feed on soul-less leavings.

#darkpoetsclub