A NOBLE BIRD WE HAVE FORGOTTEN

by K. McSorley

ARE BUZZARDS, VULTURES, CROWS,
  AND RAVENS---ALL COUSINS?
    "NEVER!" QUOTH THE RAVEN
********************************************

Now with springtime arriving and all,
    Much talk has arisen
         concerning birds.

The world would be much poorer...
    It is true,
         without its birds!

There must be thousands of species
     of them, truly an
          accomplishment of creation!

Even little nine-year-old Dean, praying
    in my children's choir,
          thought of them;

"Lord, help the world as it goes along,
     and the little birds---
          that they will do nicely. Amen."

Just about everyone is for the birds---
    looks for them, watches them,
         listens to them, and hopes---
              they will do nicely.

Myself---I like them! I love ducks...
   like Green-head Mallards,
        Pintails, Redheads, and
            Mergansers!

Also robins, doves, quail, blue jays,
    meadow-larks, chickadees;
        in fact I never met a
            bird I didn't like.

The thought had not occurred to me
    before, but recently I read that
        there are those in the
            cognoscenti who say:

"The buzzard is a noble bird."

 These knowledgeable folks say that
    buzzards soar and glide on
        the air currents of the globe,

spotting with their keen eyes, the refuse,
     decaying bodies, carnage
          of the world...and ridding
               the planet of it

One bite at a time.

They say these birds are virtual vultures...
    That they are noble, sharing,
         birds---that the discoverer
             is left alone to reap the
                labors of his searching
                   and have a feast.

They point out: not so with egotistic, pushy,
    eagles...who charge right in.
          selfishly, to get their share.

Maybe we need to take a new look at this
     special bird---the buzzard, and give
         him credit due as a sanitation
                       specialist!

I'm willing to be open-minded

     to what's going
 on in the sky, and re-evaluate them.

     Are you?

     Carrion, Buzzards!

----30----
by Mil
May 5, 2014