GOAT SONGS
Something sacred
Has occurred
If an old scarred goatherd
Of a youth
Has broken bread with me
And told me how
The moon goes,
And admired
My river wood.
GOAT SONGS
What the full moon does
For the sunflowers
Is more
Than they do for the moon
Though
They are brothers.
GOAT SONGS
After dreadful winter
I discover
Frogs stitch it up.
GOAT SONGS
Either the wet creek-wood sticks
In the fire or people outside
Whistle and sing.
GOAT SONGS
Traveller approaching.
No. Moonlight on sunflower leaves.
Welcome him.
GOAT SONGS
I hate these nights
When tulip tree leaves
Crack the pavement
And are not
Footsteps,
And the leggy puss
Will not come in
Because her son is here,
And the lonely are always dispersing
And their lights going out.
GOAT SONGS
The eye at the window
Is only night-bug.
Why did you ride away
In tears? I only
Said the amaryllis there
By the window
Is beautiful.
GOAT SONGS
The first lightning-bug!
How many mint-eating nights
Without your coming?
GOAT SONGS
Old moon
It is nice that you are
Sharp underneath
Soft topped.
Be slow going
Like an old white horse.
Come back some times
Come snorting, thick-thighed
Over snow hills.
GOAT SONGS
While I write these
Fat little birds
Type upon the snow.
GOAT SONGS
The horse with the sunflower eye:
Sinuous with bone
In three-ring breeze.
Clowning.
GOAT SONGS
A no-moon night
I stand by the gate
And then by the fire
And then by the gate,
White skull of black horse
Watching.
Let it burn.
GOAT SONGS
Three evening primroses
Opposite new stars
Show up.
In the pines
Across creek
Some small animal
Dies crying.
Falls and wind.
Sing on.
I stir the fire.
_______________________________________________
from Goat Songs, 1970
Ray Drew is not the defensive end for the University of Georgia Bulldogs
