The Tail of a Rabbit & a Sonnet of Stars

A Rather Abrupt Variety of Poems

Sonnet of Stars

How startling was the beauty of the stars
When I looked up tonight–forgetful, I,
Of aught beyond my pain of flesh and heart–
To see against the blackness of the sky
The blaze of midnight, all the glory housed
Star upon star, so far beyond our thought.
The distance of that sudden light aroused
My wonder, and that wonder questions brought:
Why need we ask the gods for aught but just
The promise there are worlds beyond our pain?
For all the faiths of all the ages trust
That though we cease, there are things that remain;
Let pain find surcease by a kindly will
That from our hearts the stars may blossom still.

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The Tail of the Rabbit

Rabbits in the twilight,
Rabbits in the dark,
Just a flash of tail-white
Scuttling in an arc
Round the final fence-post
Out into the night,
Just a white tail hindmost
Softly out of sight.

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The Black and Silver in this following poem is my sister’s beloved miniature Schnauzer, Dulcie. The poem is written very much from the dog’s point of view; those familiar with Schnauzers will probably recognize the attitudes!

Black and Silver

She took the little Black and Silver thing
Out for a walk upon a scarlet string,
And there they heard the dread coyotes sing.
So Black and Silver stood and barked aloud
In pomp and courage, and she was most proud
To set the neighbors barking in a crowd!
Hola, hola! We’ll have no raiders here.
We’ll keep our humans safe; they shall not fear!
Then Black and Silver went back in good cheer,
Her nightly duty done, and held her head
Up high to hear the praise her human said
She most deserved. And then they went to bed.

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