ANN E. COTRUPI
THE TWINS AROUND THE BLOCK
Complexions of rosy perfection—
Pale fringe fanning velvety cheek
We hovered in silent discretion
To gaze at the children asleep
We looked down in frank adoration
And smiled later on in the night
At the closeness of heaven sent symbols,
And angelic dreams within sight.
THE MOOSE
Tracking from a distance
I’m struck by his persistence
In trekking toward a summit
Set apart by freezing tundra, rock and rill
I console myself by thinking
That his steady gaze unblinking
Seems quite fixed and all instincting
Somewhere just beyond that hill
While forsaking field and clover
And the hum of gnats that hover
Nature spurs him to discover
Untread paths to ward the chill
Perhaps a harem napping
Beyond that stunted sapling?
Perhaps a grass that’s greener still
Beyond that rock and rill?
If he turned in my direction
Would he feel some disaffection?
Or in animal awareness,
Feel less free?
Would it offer consolation?
Or a moosely desolation—
To sense he wasn’t all alone,
But wandered there with me.