Picking the Bones

Ancient lizards leave their mark
on the badlands, a trail of prints,
scattered remains, an impression.

Lizard groupies with picks
and canvas hats follow the tracks,
pick the bones, exhibit icons

in a great hall where PhD's gather
with tweed jackets and stem-glasses
full of sixty-five dollars a bottle.

In the badlands the groupies break
for lunch, bring out the beer
and barbeque chicken, three vultures circle.

The groupies pick the bones,
scatter remains, leave their mark,
and the vultures leave a lizard impression.