Monday night we took a canoe ride after dinner on the small lake upon which our cabin sits on the shore.
The water was calm and the lake was quiet with only a few other boats floating about. We paddled to the left and circled counter clockwise around the lake, opposite to the direction we normally take. Upon reaching the three quarter mark of our trip, we saw a bird caught on some up drafts above the newly leafed out trees. We wondered if it were our eagle friends who nest yearly on the shores of our lake. But, as we got closer, a flock of similar birds took off up into the air and started circling.
“Turkey Vultures,” my husband exclaimed.
He was right, of course. After a few minutes of circling, and playing follow the leader or tag, whatever the chosen game of the night, the turkey vultures began landing in a large tree. It was their roost! There must have been 30-40 birds, all turkey vultures adorning the branches of this tree! It was a sight and later inspired my poem for Poetry Friday this week.
The Turkey Vulture
Raptor, raptor
Tell us your story
Sitting there in your tree
Spying below on the lake, my husband, and me
As we ride by in our canoe so silent
You know we are not yours to rent
For a ride or a meal, we will not provide
Anything to help you survive
For we see you are not the bald eagle we love so much
But a mere turkey vulture, hiding there in a bunch
Of others like you, all gathered in a tree,
Over the lake noticeable for us to see
As we ride by in our canoe so silent
We hope you don’t notice the fish we caught with our trident
Today is Poetry Friday! Our host is Christie at Wondering and Wandering. Thank you for hosting, Christie! We appreciate you!
The Apples in My Orchard 
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