“Vulture” is about doing the dirty work. There was a time in my life when I thought I wanted to be a funeral director. I wanted to help people through difficult times, and I did not mind the morbidity. It didn’t work out, but I took a great deal away from my time working in funeral homes.
It is not always death and despair that we shun. We, as humans, tend toward praising the light while neglecting the dark. But when we leave behind the dregs of our lifestyle, who is it that cleans up after us?
This poem is for all those who are left picking up the pieces, whether a literal sense of cleaning, a recovery, shadow work, or any sense of getting out hands dirty doing what needs to be done.
Embrace the noble vulture within yourself, and next time you find yourself fixing the mess around you, remember that this, too, is worthwhile.
Stay tuned for more “Behind the Poem” entries throughout the month of April, and if you want a sneak peek at tomorrow’s poem, check my Patreon. (It’s free!)
Happy reading,
Sibyl