Vultures Circling

As the reaper approached, I lie waiting for death,
whispering sad goodbyes while gasping for breath.
In a blurry haze of awareness, I drift towards sleep,
as visions of childhood days in my mind slowly creep.
I hear muffled sobs of loved ones as they weep.

There's a shadowy presence flying high overhead,
those scavengers of death, those that I most dread.
Their beady black eyes intent on watching my face,
circling around and around. It's a feast they chase,
ebon wing feathers falling as they hasten their pace.

I've need of sanity, so I close my eyes and pretend
I'm walking on a summer day with my best friend.
We're chasing tadpoles and sloshing in streams,
laughing as our skin turns bronze from sunbeams,
then I wake to realize that these were but dreams.

My memories are fading, and my lips feel numb.
To eternity's slumber, I will soon succumb.
I asked someone near me to chase them away...
She bent close and whispered, "What did you say?"
"The vultures circling me. Please keep them at bay."

Clusters of tenebrous clouds obscured the sunlight.
I heard raucous calls of the damned vultures in flight.
Oh, how I begged for their tormenting caws to cease,
for only then would I live my last moments in peace.
I heralded silence then welcomed life's release.



July 10, 2022
Pick-A-Title, Vol 31 Contest
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh
Theme: Vultures Circling

Copyright © | Year Posted 2022



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Date: 8/2/2022 9:08:00 PM
Great work as usual. Congratulations!
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Jenna Logan
Date: 8/3/2022 3:40:00 AM
Thanks a lot, Chris.
Date: 8/1/2022 1:10:00 PM
Congratulations on your top win, Jenna! A compelling, haunting, dark piece, and so well written. You are a great poetess excelling in different areas of poetry! Love and best wishes ~ Mala
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Jenna Logan
Date: 8/1/2022 6:51:00 PM
You humble me, Mala. I'm glad you enjoy my poetry. Thank you.
Date: 7/31/2022 11:34:00 AM
Such a spectacular poem, Jenna! I couldn't agree more with people saying Poe would be proud! Faved. Congratulations on your top win in my contest!
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Jenna Logan
Date: 7/31/2022 11:43:00 AM
That's quite a compliment, Edward. Thank you for listing my poem among your winners. Your contests always offer good choices for writing something that will appeal to poets.
Date: 7/31/2022 8:48:00 AM
Congratulations on your win. WOW!!! What a write. Have a great/blessed day................
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Jenna Logan
Date: 7/31/2022 11:41:00 AM
Thank you very much, Paula.
Date: 7/31/2022 12:55:00 AM
Congratulations on a well-deserved win
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Jenna Logan
Date: 7/31/2022 4:52:00 AM
Thank you very much, Terry.
Date: 7/14/2022 7:27:00 AM
Great rhyme, Jenna. This is indeed, a haunting poem.
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Jenna Logan
Date: 7/15/2022 10:15:00 AM
Thank you, Mike. I surprise myself when going dark, but I was always a fan of Poe.
Date: 7/11/2022 10:21:00 AM
Oh my Jenna. This is superbly written and a great entry for the contest! Linda
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Jenna Logan
Date: 7/11/2022 12:13:00 PM
I appreciate your fine remarks. Thank you very much, Linda.
Date: 7/10/2022 9:49:00 AM
Incredibly well-written images of the last moments. I wondered if this was influenced by your recent visit with a dying friend. Necessarily sad, but poignant and compelling. A FAVE (for this old man) and I nominate it for P.O.T.D.!
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Jenna Logan
Date: 7/10/2022 3:58:00 PM
Potd has no basis that makes sense. Proven by many variables. Certainly not an algorithm as admin says.
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L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/10/2022 1:47:00 PM
I think P.O.T.D. shouldn't be based on a time line, frankly, but I know how it is!
Logan Avatar
Jenna Logan
Date: 7/10/2022 11:48:00 AM
It was definitely influenced by yesterday's visit of a dying friend. I quietly cried as I watched her slow breathing. Thank you for the fave, Milt. Too soon for another potd.
Date: 7/10/2022 9:44:00 AM
A wonderful dark piece Jenna, how could I not like this one, and I agree with Tom, Poe would love this one, although he’d properly have taken one of your eyeballs at least, another great contest entry, Cheers David
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Jenna Logan
Date: 7/10/2022 11:47:00 AM
At the very least he'd have the tick tocking of a pendulum somewhere in the background. I'm very pleased that you liked it. Thanks, David.
Date: 7/10/2022 8:04:00 AM
Quite a dark and forboding verse Jenna, Poe would be proud of this one. Tom
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Jenna Logan
Date: 7/10/2022 11:46:00 AM
I was troubled by the thought of being in such a morbid position, Tom. Thanks for appreciating it.
Date: 7/10/2022 7:47:00 AM
I thinks there’s a few circling my house (I act like I don’t see ‘em… but they’re there). Hmm, hopefully they just go away. This is such a heart-warming piece to read this bright Sunday morning. This is well written and I truly enjoyed it Jenna!
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Jenna Logan
Date: 7/10/2022 11:45:00 AM
I hope they don't see you as a carrion feat. Thanks for the fine review, Mark. I'm glad you liked it.
Date: 7/10/2022 6:28:00 AM
Don’t you just love a happy tale! Nice one, Jenna.
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Jenna Logan
Date: 7/10/2022 7:18:00 AM
According to Shakespeare, “All’s well that ends well.” Thanks, Jeff.
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