South from Yerushalayim
cruising along the Dead Sea shore
with my new friend
then up into the hills
the day was sunny
hot though only April
rounding a bend
we spotted a road kill
and stopped to look
African porcupine
impressive quills
eight or ten inches
pretty things
with alternating bands
of brown and white
gingerly I pulled a few
for souvenirs
next thing we knew
an army jeep
pulled up behind us
three men in uniform
jumped out
one grabbed the roadkill
by the tail and held it
to his nose
sniffed here and there
and with his hand
made a clean sweep
midway across the body
then his friend
took a knife and cut
where the first soldier
had run his hand to show
the meat was safe
I thought
tough guys these native sons
that's not a dish
I could imagine bringing home
for dinner