Be sportive as the Fawn.²
“Let’s talk,” I say—and we Bark & Growl—³
We joke with Hyænas, returning their stare—⁴
We sow the wind with wandering Neighings—⁵
O Lion—sing the human song
Of the Tooth & Soul!⁶
The Cattle have hitherto grazed in
A Peace unbroken by astonishment—⁷
Wolves shall succeed for Teachers—⁸
Hope dawns with all its Dolphins!⁹
Reserve within thy kingdom,
A mansion for the Rat!¹⁰
¹ Sylvia Plath, Wreath for a Bridal
² William Wordsworth, Three Years She Grew in Sun and Shower
³ Heather Bell, This Is How I Make My Money
⁴ Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the Snark
⁵ Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh
⁶ Paul Celan tr. Popov & McHugh, Coincidence Staged
⁷ George Eliot, Middlemarch
⁸ John Milton, Paradise Lost
⁹ Odysseas Elytis tr. Keeley & Sherrard, Anniversary
¹⁰ Emily Dickinson, Papa Above!