Charmed Chaos
Musings on Life, Love, and Linguine-Poetry & Writing
Searching for the Dead
Heaven-circling vultures searching for the dead
kettling high in the gall-grayed evening sky
grave-groping carrions
with a keen sense of smell.
They care not for the bell-voiced wood thrush
crooning in the arms of an ancient oak;
rather they hear the moon-blown wailing
of the grey wolf in mourning
near the remains of its pregnant mate.
©2021 Linda Lee Lyberg
Author’s Note: I took a dark turn with this prompt. Laura is our guest host and has asked us to write a poem with at least 4 of the word compounds she has chosen from Dylan Thomas’ work. They are:
BELL-VOICED CRADLE-PETALS DARK-VOWELLED DUST-TONGUED
FIRE-DWARFED GRAVE-GROPING HARE-HEELED HEAVEN-CIRCLING
LARK-HIGH MAP-BACKED MOON-BLOWN MUFFLE-TOED
OWL-LIGHT RINGED-SEA SCYTHE-EYED SHE-BIRD
TEAR-CULLED TIDE-LOOPED WATER-SPOKEN WHALE-WEED
dVerse Poets Pub: Tuesday Poetics Love the words
Share this:
31 Comments on “Searching for the Dead”
Leave a comment
JUST RELEASED!
JUST RELEASED!
Bartender at
Barista at Go Dog Go Cafe
Awards Top 20 Short Story Blog
Recent Comments
 | Michael Thiltgen on The Legend of Jump River … |
 | Linda Lee Lyberg on Spring Sigh |
 | Jetty on Spring Sigh |
| Linda Lee Lyberg on The Legend of Jump River … |
 | Mickey on The Legend of Jump River … |
POETS CORNER
Charmed Chaos 
_From_The_Crossley_ID_Guide_Raptors.jpg){kind=link}
A gothic twist there Linda – great use of the word prompts and the contrast with the bell-voiced wood thrush is profound – especially love
” gall-grayed evening sky”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly Laura.
LikeLike
They are the sanitation supervisors in the food chain of life and death.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they are. I have a lot of respect for them actually and the good they do.
LikeLike
A dark turn, indeed, from start to finish. You surprised me with that dead pregnant wolf at the end. I find it interesting that I would not have been so nearly disturbed if the carrion had been a deer or other non-apex predator.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s how I felt as well. It was hard to write it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hyenas and coyotes are in the same carrion club. This was a throbbing good Gothic dip into darkness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Glenn.
LikeLike
I admire the darkness of that grief and moon-blown wailing of your poem Linda. I specially like the use of “kettling” high (verbing example).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Grace.
LikeLike
wooooooooah. i did not see that ending coming. felt like an intro to a very interesting novel. beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Journey of the vulture and the mourning of wolf has given a distinct touch!I loved it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly.
LikeLike
It’s deliciously dark, this poem, Linda! I love the ‘grave-groping carrions’ ‘kettling high in the gall-grayed evening sky’ and the contrast between the ‘bell-voiced wood thrush’ and the ’moon-blown wailing of the grey wolf’. Such a sad ending.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Kim. The ending was hard for me to write.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dark suits you. You should write it more often. Well done, Linda!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Dorinda!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh those fowls are awe inspiring… every piece of bone is a story in its own.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, indeed. Thank you Bjorn.
LikeLike
Poignant and well constructed piece of writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
I thought this was sad, rather than dark. Poor wolf.
I really liked the sounds in this, particularly: “kettling high in the gall-grayed evening sky”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Merril. I know, I love wolves; all animals really.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the connected vowel sounds of this line Linda: “crooning in the arms of an ancient oak” fine piece! Dark in a wnderful way. Kettle is s great word! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rob.
LikeLike
Poignant and haunting, Linda!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Frank.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure 😇
LikeLiked by 1 person