Poem of a Wise Man

Swallows,
like nymphs and children,
can catch a midsummer breeze
and frolic

on the lightest wind.


And in a good autumn gust
even the ravens
put aside their Nevermores
to play with Elsewhere

for a while.


But today
the winds blew so hard
that three vultures
over a field of last year's stubbled corn,
set aside their slow circling
mortal cycle
to dance