The elderly psychopomp speaks his gullet words
Preparing me as charity for birds
I smelled snow and sweat when I drew breath
Though now I must give charity to birds
Juniper and fire become alms for the air
As I now must give charity to birds
The vultures are first, their beaks are the strongest,
They take the meat of my charity for birds
My friends come next, dearest to my heart,
Laughing as they grind a further charity for birds
What once I was is mixed with milk and bread
To fatten my gift of charity to birds
The speckled hawks and midnight rooks arrive
Hoarding their share of my charity for birds
I might be a wisp of smoke or softly chanted prayer
As I watch myself give charity to birds
Destitute and zephyrous I find my elsewheres
Having given everything in charity to birds.