Milele in His Temple
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
The Beijing cat, a silvery chevron on
His head, between his ears, in fur as white
As whitest peony, the chevron drawn
As Chinese artists with a flourish might
Produce with conjuring brush, paraded round
His Beijing flat. His white-furred tail brushed past
Bouquets of blossoms not as quite profound
As whitest lilies and carnations massed
In decorated vases with designs
Of beauty such as peonies. The screens
Were gold and orange. They made the perfect shrines
For him, Milele. One of them had scenes
With long-legged cranes to give him longer time
In life. Their several lovelinesses rhyme.