Omen of the Dead, Belly-Up Hog

1 Tracking maroon blood drops 
2 on the path yesterday
3 up from the river
4 into the yellow wildflowers,
5nothing turned up 
6 but the rich scent of spring.  
7
8 Coming around 
9 the beaten path today, 
10 dozens of vultures 
11 fill the branches
12 of the live oak trees 
13 overnight, 
14
15 fat, 
16 content, 
17 and too heavy to give a damn.
18 They watch down 
19 upon the steep ridge 
20 that leads to where she finally laid, died, 
21 and never reached the water;
22
23 the vultures have led to the moment.
24 Her heart eaten out 
25 again and again 
26 as these words 
27 written and rewritten
28 walk out that gulley home 
29 so as not to forget.
30
31 The vultures remain, 
32taking turns 
33ripping her to shreds, 
34picking her clean,
35 without a care for her young.

4.12.24