sunny interlude

silent choir of vultures on the church roof
watching at noon as i walk down the drive
they cast a pall of fear though i'm alive
their gaze is bitter it demands real proof
i'm not the next meal passing on the hoof
under that stare i falter still i will deprive
these carrion fowl of satisfaction i'll survive
their frightening eyes from them i am aloof
under the mango tree's shade i pause and sigh
not simply in relief but with a kind of fear
that there's a message in these watching birds
but i'm no little boy there's no reason to cry
and on my face is sweat but not a tear
it takes a long time to find the right words