Giraffes

and i have dreamed again
of giraffes,
longlimbed, angular,
moonlight-mottled apparitions
come to stalk my mind as i sleep;
they walk to me from abstract clouds,
in brown and yellow varigations
and lick my face
with long and slender tongues,
and peacefully gaze at me beneath
long and tender lashes,
that shelter eyes , as dark and limpid as pools of oil;
they walk about and nod their heads
as if in silent agreement
that they mean no harm,
then silently walk away
still nodding heads in quiet dignity. . .

October 1973