Part 3 (2/2)

Your regret at leaving Paris Is like parting from a woman.

Paris has wounded you With her loveliness!

Conjecture

Why should I think of you As a Perewinkle?

Retired . . .

Out of sight in your sh.e.l.l . . .

Safe!

I wonder what would happen If once again in your lifetime Someone, armed with a sharp pin, p.r.i.c.ked you into the daylight?

Time Was

When you were here, life did not run In prim and ordered placid rows The sky was full of spinning stars And laughter danced upon its toes!

”Track”!

This is release; This, the sloughing off of the outer husk; The spruces lean To clutch you in a green embrace; But your spirit has already outstripped them Flying in arrowy rhythm Round a sudden turn In the ski trail!

Travellers

We traveled down a gra.s.sy road O sweet it was to wander!

And parted at the forks of it And this is what I ponder: Would it have been a braver thing For us to stay together, In spite of any single thing . . .

Against whatever weather?

Ailurophile

When neighbours' cats begin to yowl and yammer You always want to hit them with a hammer!

But when your own puts on this spring display You almost always wonder ”Should we spay?” ...

Or ”Shall we add another to our flock And just have kittens, all around the clock”?

O isn't it a thing both true and queer That one cat's ”calling” falling on the ear Is troublesome . . . a noisome imposition While with your cat it's just his disposition, And all his other graces far outnumber The yearly Spring nocturnal break of slumber!

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