I, Adam

I named the birds and all the cattle . . .

Lump-backed, web-foot, keel-breast, fish and fowl.

When God made the ox he brought it before me

To see how I would him call.

"What is it?" God said, and he set a thing on a stone.

Hooked-beak, have-take, swoop-snatch, and swift talk

Of a short, crooked claw, and I said,

"Tt is the hawk."

Or again: God put in the grass and the air...

"What is it?" (God's laughter) A bubble of dark

Re-winded water, wing beat up and over,

And I flung, "Hark, hark, the lark..."