turkey vulture

the tips of each pine
the spikes of telephone poles
hold gathering crows

july’s errant mustard
spreads wild across paved road
look both ways

roadside take out
feeding gopher, claws to mouth
cheeks puffed with music

yesterday’s summer wind
ruffling the grey tips of fur
rabbit dandelion

turkey vulture feeds
mechanical as a red oil rig
head rocks down up down

elegant flyer glides
lines, sculpted against pond blue;
white clouds against sky

banded headed bird
this ballerina killer
looking for mice and rabbits.

--Kimberly Blaeser