Voyeur

Voyeurs 

       —after the short documentary Vultures of Tibet by Russell O. Bush

We watch others 

watch a Sky Burial

in the flapping winds of Tibet.

The vultures arrive 

from the stony peaks  

piecemeal at first 

then as sky avalanche

a tumble of 

boiling birds tearing 

into flesh.

The curious pay a fee 

to local officials

make a short climb 

for the best angle 

snap shots of the vultures

the human body.

We watch each other watch 

            audience 

            filmmakers

            tourists

camera lenses

            monks

            vultures

their hard copper beaks

brown feathers fluttering

like prayer flags.