blackest vulture
You wait in the shadows
to prey on me
to rob my joy
to place obstacles in front of me,
and eclipse the sun

I trip and fall
lying alone in darkness
but there I see a sliver of light.
I garner all my faith,
all my strength
to reach for it,
and get up
and scare you away
again.


Michele Bandler
December 6, 2020