Vulture

From field to field and field – throughout the afternoon in sky and sky of Asia
Are grazing the vultures. Man sees market outpost settlement – soundless fields
Of the vulture. Where extreme silence of the field is standing next to the sky
As if another sky, – there the vultures descend once in succession
From the stern hard clouds: As if leaving their distant light the sleep-weary elephants of direction
Have fallen – Have fallen on earth in fields grounds wildernesses of Asia
All these discarded birds, but for a few moments: They then lift themselves to rise,
Huge wings of darkness on the palm tree. On the horns of the hills in sea’s margins
They momentarily survey the beauty of earth: When ships of the Sea of Bombay
In darkness of harbour dock, that they view : then to peaceful Malabar
They go flying: Passing round the sad corner of a minaret many vultures
Forgetting the birds of earth disappear to some kingdom beyond Death:
As if some Boitirini or desolated earthly lagoon of Separation
Is moved to weeping – strain your eyes to see where in the distant blue have merged all those Huns!