Vultures hover over
naked bodies on stone slabs,
exposed and presented
for nature to reclaim.

The birds of prey
make dive after dive.
Exploding in a parable
of eternity, bite by bite.

Flesh gripped between beaks-
in the Zoroastrian city of the dead,
a dying religion sends home
its last few rotting remnants.

Surrounded by tall walls,
like the beliefs and truths
of its followers.
These are the sacred things:

You can not burn a body,
nor bury one in dirt
or send one off to sea,
or mummify, or freeze.

The spirit leaves
and birds come
to eat it away,
piece by piece.

10/07/2003

Posted on 10/08/2003
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