Читать книгу THE TIME CAPSULE - Norman Smith D. - Страница 18

The Vulture

In a class by himself

And as such, it is called unique

No one envies them for their job,

One that is in high demand.

They perch upon the highest tree or cliff

Overlooking their targeted domain.

Usually on the outskirts of town,

And frequently circling the perimeters

In high hopes of discovering a meal.

Wishing for death to call some creature

So that they can eat and be merry,

Always finding a station upwind

Since the wind is their most reliable messenger

To their keen sense of smell.

Though most people favored other birds

For their splendid colors

Such as the peacock and the cockatoo,

And for food, they favored the chicken

Turkey, ducks, quails, and the pheasant.

And the other exotic birds, they choose as pets,

We are glad they resent us.

So our species can gamely flourish

While we enjoy our freedom.

No hunting for game and ending up

On a platter, or cooped up on a farm,

Or perhaps stuffed and mounted on a wall,

Or caged, in some lonesome house.

But we are as free as birds should be.

Unlike those edible birds they favored,

Neither two legs, four legs, man or beast,

Welcome us at their table for feast,

Or as their caged pet to keep.

Though we possess no great talent in flight

No gift of speed, or tenacity to fight,

No acrobatic maneuvers or unusual skills,

We are the most unlikely bird to be killed.

Often the eagle passes us on their way to hunt,

Sometimes returning unsuccessfully

Still not looking in our direction

Quiet as a mouse, on the job each day

Eating to keep your city clean is our pay.

We pose no threat to any living thing,

Harmless as a dove they say.

They even forget about the importance of our job

And that’s all right,

Thanks to man, their law protects us

Thou shall not kill the vulture, so they say.

And that’s the law in all the land,

I do believe that men are smart

Who will do my job if I become extinct.