Vampyrum Spectrum

Night incarnate,

whom none could conquer;

Darkness embodied,

death’s own herald.

Fine fingers spread

into furry wings;

Curved claws tipped

the coal-colored vanes.

Razor-edged teeth

like ceramic knives

Too large by far

for the lipless mouth.

Brow-stars blazing

like bright-burning gledes;

Ears attuned

to echolocation.

A wonder indeed

of the wider world:

The single species

of spectral-bat.