[2025:46] The Animal Kingdom, Jim Tilley

In deep snow, bald eagle with broken wing,
turkey vultures standing guard in proper
pecking order for picking clean the ribs.
Commander-in-chief insists on first dibs
while cabinet ministers wait their turn,
little liberty left to speak their minds,
fraternity more apparent than real,
inequality even in their ranks.
What about us? Long-gone any semblance
of brotherhood. With barely contained ire,
yours likely different from mine, we count down
days until greed reigns supreme, the kingdom
set on fire. We pray for resurrection,
that a phoenix rises from the ashes.