Over the hills one can see war-vultures, circling. My heart is in danger: its enemies prepare for the kill. I want to let light in, but light itself comes apart. I want to listen to the soothing sound of the rain, but every raindrop falls on broken stones.  Only the long, white syllables of my last Ah’s and Oh’s can be heard. I drool in my sleep as a wake of hungry vultures perch upon my tongue.

smouldering moon
together we will burn
these etchings

Réka Nyitrai & Alan Peat

Ekphrastic haibun based on ‘El Buitre Carnivoro’, Francisco Goya
(c. 1815-1820)