Vulture Poem by Robinson Jeffers

Vulture

Rating: 3.3


I had walked since dawn and lay down to rest on a bare hillside
Above the ocean. I saw through half-shut eyelids a vulture wheeling
high up in heaven,
And presently it passed again, but lower and nearer, its orbit
narrowing,
I understood then
That I was under inspection. I lay death-still and heard the flight-
feathers
Whistle above me and make their circle and come nearer.
I could see the naked red head between the great wings
Bear downward staring. I said, 'My dear bird, we are wasting time
here.
These old bones will still work; they are not for you.' But how
beautiful
he looked, gliding down
On those great sails; how beautiful he looked, veering away in the
sea-light
over the precipice. I tell you solemnly
That I was sorry to have disappointed him. To be eaten by that beak
and
become part of him, to share those wings and those eyes--
What a sublime end of one's body, what an enskyment; what a life
after death.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Fabrizio Frosini 10 December 2015

''What a sublime end of one's body, '' well.. not the best, maybe.. ;) - In Italian: - ''Quale sublime fine per il proprio corpo, ''

13 3 Reply
Fabrizio Frosini 10 December 2015

A description about the cycles of nature...

11 2 Reply
Kim Barney 01 December 2014

Amazing. I was intrigued from the beginning, because I love to watch vultures flying, but then the abrupt thought of becoming part of one by being eaten, that just blew me away!

6 2 Reply
Seamus O Brian 01 December 2014

I had my doubts at the beginning, but the imagery pulled me in and nailed me.

4 2 Reply
Darryl Jackson 26 June 2015

The beauty of the circle of life is clear in these words.

4 1 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 18 August 2024

Congratulations again! Most deserving! TFS

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 18 August 2024

he vulture serves as a multifaceted symbol. The vulture's predatory nature is acknowledged, but the speaker also finds beauty and awe in its presence. Despite being associated with death, the vulture becomes a representation of heaven—a thing to be cherished rather than feared.

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 18 August 2024

THRICE chosen as The Modern Poem Of The Day, how excellent!

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 25 June 2024

TODAY, again chosen as The Modern Poem Of The Day, by Poem Hunter and Team.

1 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 25 June 2024

SIX: : The poem concludes with the speaker daydreaming about seeing with a vulture's eyes and flying with its wings, transforming death from something frightful to something promising and transcendent.

1 0 Reply
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Robinson Jeffers

Robinson Jeffers

Allegheny, Pennsylvania
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