Casualties

I saw a vulture

crouching over

some poor creature's 

mangled body

on Tamalpais Avenue

yesterday.

It flew up

as cars approached,

then quickly returned to it's task.

At noon today, 

the sirens cried

at 14th and Broadway

where a body shrouded

in a sleeping bag

stirred and moaned.

Two Downtown/Uptown

courtesy officers bent

and tried to get his name.

The pedestrians stepped around him

when the crossing signals

bleated go.