Time for another Friday Fictioneers story. Remember, these are 100-word stories based on a photo. This is my second story for this great group, four years ago. By the way, welcome to 2017! (Yes, I know this isn’t a buzzard, but it is fiction!)
copyright Roxann Phillips
Look alive. Here comes a buzzard.
Basta!! You see me (looking dramatic in B&W, I think) and I know what you imagine: death, evil, decaying flesh.
Contemplate for a moment. Where would you sci-fi, futuristic doom-mongers be without me? Your future always holds darkness, war, and death. Bodies everywhere. So you need us. The carrion-birds. Cleaning up your messes so you don’t die of terrible diseases due to all that rotting flesh. (Zombie apocalypse people, this means you, too.) A little gratitude wouldn’t come amiss!
But instead? “Bird brain” is bad enough, but “buzzard breath” and “old buzzard?” Beyond the pale! How would you feel?
………………………………
(The title is a saying by Lady Stella Reading.)
This, that and the other thing 
Well, I don’t have a 100 word story about buzzards, vultures, but i do have a very short poem.
JUDGEMENT SEAT
Stark, grey, lightning blasted.
The old oak tree stands
On a hill above the canyon.
A seat for vultures.
The vultures, with wings
Spread wide to the rising sun,
Sit, black robed,
In judgement of the day.
copyright 2004
Thanks for sharing, Lenore. and happy 2017.
janet
Not to mention the more general “kill two birds with one stone” We really do owe them an apology 🙂
A bit like needing garbage men, but people tend to look down on that job a bit.
janet
Well, these days, those guys are high-tech. Driving around in air-conditioned trucks with a machine gripper to do the heavy lifting.
You know, you’re right! I don’t think authors give enough attention to carrion birds. I’m passing that along to a zombie-apocalypse-writing friend, if you don’t mind.
Feel free, Marian. 🙂
janet
As a person who lives in the city, but on a patch of land inviting to wildlife, and as a person whose dog ‘plays with critters til they move no more’, I owe our natural sanitation employees much gratitude for cleaning up my back 40 😉 I’m sure they all appreciate this glimpse into their value. Brava!
I appreciate that POV, Joey. We also owe the little bugs and critters that get rid of “leftovers”, including animal droppings of all sorts, although we may not find them all especially appealing. 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting.
janet
Oddly enough I recently read about the black-breasted buzzard, found in Australia, which can crack eggs using a stone. In 2017 I am looking forward to appreciating all the underdog creatures (here’s to the dung beetle!) and “weed” plants which are such an integral part of our world. Thank you for the reminder. Happy New Year!
What an interesting talent for a bird! There are many plants and creatures that we either don’t think about or dislike, but that have a vital purpose. Always good to remember them, even if it doesn’t make us want to be around them. 🙂 Happy New Year and thanks for taking time to comment.
janet
“Look alive! Here comes a buzzard!” What a great play on words for the title, Janet! 😀
Glad you enjoyed the story. It was fun to ride.