Two Poems

THE NAMING OF THE ANIMALS
'. . . and whatever the man called every living creature,
that was its name.' Genesis 2:19.

When still in your
white robe of sleep you
saw them,
a zootrain, a barnyard.
In common they had only innocence,
and regarded you with
trust or reproach,
though you had
then even no words for them.
Without words, it took you
a while, to call both the high
and the low.
In coveys and beveys,
in herds, flocks and teams,
they came creeping and skimming,
...