("Mazatlanan unenclosed system...")

ROBERT PETERSON

EVENING POEM

Enlightenment should come easily,

noting the absence of wind.

But it is a measuring worm

on an ivy leaf

that attracts attention.

The yellow cat has gone to see the white cat.

Petals of four kinds of camellia fall

gracefully into sadness.

And there is nothing to improve

the extravagant silence.

Flowing through silk sleeves

are all memories

of previous things.

And the pine tree beyond the garden

is seen again

to be a resting place

For birds

who come no nearer.

Structure

20 lines · 9 stanzas