Lammergeyer

Over mountains, glaciers and rivers,
a lammergeyer soars,
surveying the white mountains
with red-rimmed eyes.
It flies as a great winged spectre
to the cold wastes of the west.

The carcass of a blue sheep,
revealed by the retreat of the snow,
surrounded by crows
and griffon vultures.

Squabbling,
the griffons of the Himalayas
flay the sheep into a red blotch
on the mountainside.
Ripping away at sinew and muscle
until they reach the bones.

The spectre descends,
and the griffins scatter
as it lands in the grass.
It ruffles grey and white feathers,
lifts bones in its talons,
carries them above the slopes
and drops them onto the cold rocks.
The bones broken, the lammergeyer
feasts on luxurious marrow.