1. With some of its blackness blessed
And no harm afflicted, how narrow it was

2. I alighted upon it, unknowing
That it held a burning ember

3. I nearly perished from the heat
And from the tightness, nearly strangled

4. And found from our two bodies together
To our eye a pale specter

5. So if you scratch parchment with purpose
And if you perfect, you birth a vulture