Turkey Vulture

Black leather wings
spread to dry in the early sun,
they perch on fences like great bat-birds.

The naked rubber head: red, wrinkled.
Eyes piercing as Picasso's,
tearing beak, their ripping claws.

But when they fly
when they launch themselves
like a single feather

into thermals curved as the hills below
when they glide
controlling the wind

by the least shift of their weight
when they soar and begin
the open spiral that fuels their search

they are air creatures
beautiful black sweeps across the sky
efficient spectral superb

 
by CB Follett