Tribute To a Vulture

Antithesis of avian beauty Monstrosity of the bird family Head and neck very hideous looking In dull black wrinkled up unfeathered skin Exposed decaying animal matter Can produce unhealthy bacteria That can endanger other life species Threatening them with illness and disease Consumption of animal carrion Is part of your normal food ingestion Though your appearance may cause revulsion You fulfil a most essential function Your motion on land is very clumsy With those black legs you step so awkwardly Yet when you take off to the air in flight Your graceful movement is a pleasant sight Riding air currents way up in the sky On motionless wings you go sailing by While cruising up there at such a great height You look out for food with your keen eyesight Though to some, you may appear unsightly Your role in nature is prized most highly You are indeed a most worthy creature I pay tribute to you, noble vulture I love watching vultures in flight as they sail on air currents so gracefully and effortlessly. The vulture in my native land is "The Corbeau". This poem is dedicated to it.