Beasts

That was a shocking day

When we watched, lying prone,

The two trout sidle under

The underwater stone:

When we saw there beyond

The hedge of hardy thorn

The sexual touch of summer

Luring the lifted corn:

When down the slope the two

Running red fox dared

Daylight in their need,

Poised, aloof and paired:

When cardinals from green

Willows, with red cries,

Scarlet scream of bird,

Plunged in our pool of eyes:

For we, merely woman

And man, did not believe

Living things could love

Wholly, and not grieve:

For love had always been

A nimble animal

That could lure innocence

Or lewd on its belly crawl:

By snarl, by sensual cry,

Love lived, but in a cage,

Barred by my own tight pride

And your rehearsed pure rage:

Pride, pride that would not let

Self give up utterly,

Rage, rage that self would give

Itself up utterly:

They leapt at us like fire

And burned us with our blame,

Defied us with delight,

And shamed our human shame.