Resolve
Day of mist: day of tarnish
with hands
unserviceable, I wait
for the milk vanthe one-eared cat
laps its gray pawand the coal fire burns
outside, the little hedge leaves are
become quite yellow
a milk-film blurs
the empty bottle on the windowsillno glory descends
two water drops poise
on the arched green
stem of my neighbor's rose busho bent bow of thorns
the cat unsheathes its claws
the world turnstoday
today I will not
disenchant my twelve black-gowned examiners
or bunch my fist
in the wind's sneer.