The African Lammergeyer Poem by Gert Strydom

Very few birds are so impressive
as the lammergeyer
with its three meter stretched out wings
when it glides circling
high above the mountains.

Legends tell that this bird
snatches people and fly away with them
but the weak claws and feet
contradicts these tales

and in spite of its size
the lammergeyer is a timid and shy bird
that lives from carrion
and it eats the remains of animals
like a vulture

and it carries the large bones
to tremendous heights
to drop upon rocks
to break them open
before it circles down
to peck up the bits of marrow.