The Lammergeier Daughter
That night, I opened your wardrobe and found
a trophy of vultures, their necks pierced
by hanger hooks. I saw at once
that you hunted everything I loved—
the griffon, the Himalayan, the lammergeier,
who haunted our home with wheeling cries.
I peeled off my skin then, and robed myself
as a bird bride. Veiled in morning mist
I married the sky. Of course, you aimed
at my heart, but as the bullet tore through me
I wrapped my talons around your skull,
lifted you high, and dropped you as a lamb
drops newborn from his mother
onto the snow-fleeced earth.
I landed beside you on the quilt.
And when the flesh-eaters had done their work,
it was I, your lammergeier daughter,
who devoured your bones—look, Father,
how they slide down my throat like rifles.
By PASCALE PETIT
RECENT POEM OF THE DAY POSTS:
I thank God I’m alive
This Isn’t Life
Psychosis
A sadness in my soul
Silence
Those who love us most betray us the worst
Best Blessings
SHARE YOUR POEM:
Have you written any POETRY that you would like to share?
If so, send an email to info@thesouthafrican.com or a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211 to get your POETRY published.
You can also follow @TheSAnews on Twitter and The South African on Facebook to read the latest poems.
