As He Lay Dying

As he lay dying, two fat crows
   Sat perched above in a strangling vine,
      And one crow called to the other:
         "Brother,
   Harvest his eyes, his tongue is mine."

As he lay dying, two lithe hawks
   Caressed the wind and spied two crows;
      And one hawk hissed to the other:
         "Brother,
   Mine is the sleekest one of those."

As he lay dying, two eagles passed
   And saw two hawks that hung in flying,
      And one said soft to the other:
         "Brother,
   Mark your prey." As he lay dying.