The Hope of the World and other poems by Charles Mackay |
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THE TWO VULTURES. |
 | The Hope of the World and other poems |  |
181
THE TWO VULTURES.
Two hungry vultures sat on a tree,
Large and fierce as fierce may be;
The one was solemn, plump, and sleek,
Black was his heart, though his look was meek;
The other a haughtier aspect bore,
And his greedy beak was red with gore.
Large and fierce as fierce may be;
The one was solemn, plump, and sleek,
Black was his heart, though his look was meek;
The other a haughtier aspect bore,
And his greedy beak was red with gore.
And the haughty bird to the sleek one said,
“Brother, where is thy banquet spread?
Say, my brother, I prithee, say,
Where shall we go and dine to-day;
Is there no sustenance for thee?
Is there a lack of flesh for me?”
“Brother, where is thy banquet spread?
Say, my brother, I prithee, say,
Where shall we go and dine to-day;
Is there no sustenance for thee?
Is there a lack of flesh for me?”
182
“Dost doubt?” said the vulture plump and sleek;
“Fear not, there's plenty for claw and beak;
For let us travel west or east,
We're sure ere long to find a feast;
Human folly caters for thee,
And Bigotry provides for me.
“Fear not, there's plenty for claw and beak;
For let us travel west or east,
We're sure ere long to find a feast;
Human folly caters for thee,
And Bigotry provides for me.
“Thousands and thousands of human bones
Have I picked dry and bare as stones;
And of warm and reeking human blood
Thou, my brother, hast drunk a flood;
And let us seek where'er we will
We'll find a great abundance still.
Have I picked dry and bare as stones;
And of warm and reeking human blood
Thou, my brother, hast drunk a flood;
And let us seek where'er we will
We'll find a great abundance still.
“Why should we fear that we may starve,
When men themselves our banquets carve?
Good providers, I ween, are they,
And well they feed us night and day;
Fighting and slaying up and down,
Whether they live in field or town.”
When men themselves our banquets carve?
Good providers, I ween, are they,
And well they feed us night and day;
Fighting and slaying up and down,
Whether they live in field or town.”
183
Away these bloated vultures flew:—
I wonder if what they said be true?
And whether the name of the vulture sleek
May have been Intolerance, looking so meek?
And whether the other, haughtier far,
But not so cruel at heart, was War?
I wonder if what they said be true?
And whether the name of the vulture sleek
May have been Intolerance, looking so meek?
And whether the other, haughtier far,
But not so cruel at heart, was War?
| The Hope of the World and other poems | |