She worked upon their minds, Using sharply hooked fears And soft feathered wings, To whisper insidious desires Into their hearts and minds. With the bait laid, rotting in the sun, They came in droves to feast. The butcher licked her crimson lips and smiled.
Not sure how many people have read the Second Earth Re-Told, by Patrick Woodroffe, but that book had a huge impact on me. This poem is a nod to his work.