and
OIl IO /l r-prOprc
opened its slow fa n ,
defy in g the air
fo r a co unt of ten.
In the ar roga n t qui et,
th at sc reen of aq ua
played with th e fi-ight
and th e raptu re
in yo ur gaze, th en shi vered ,
po plar-fashi o n ,
and in do lentl y fo lded
its starry va nes.
11.
C hil d, how shall I teac h
yo ur hun d red eyes to sleep,
in w hi ch the bird is fi gured
as o n an engraved gem
o r a C hri sti an tomb,
its fl es h thro ugh centuri es
th o ught inco rruptible?
Still th ey blink and watc h '
Is it t he sc ream of peacocks
thro ugh palm and ancient il ex
by w hi ch yo u are p urs ued ,
thro ugh th e compli ca ted air
and smell of o leander,
th e ye ll and Ill ew o f lo ng in g,
in to th e lap is tabe rn acle
of yo ur obli vio n?
N ow they beg in to d roop
del icio usly and swim ,
as Illun da ne emerald
contrives
to
fa n the b row
w here sleep is build in g now.
