MEMPHIS

You who have known the Keepers of the Nile,
You of the eerie, golden eye,
You of the secret, knowing smile- Memphis.

O beast of sleek and silvered fur
And aristocratic disdain,
How many of us have looked upon you
And, with a shudder, pondered a while
On your subtle, frightening smile?

You who have known the Keepers of the Nile,
You of the eerie, golden eye,
You of the secret, knowing smile- Memphis.

Beast of the silent, slinking walk
And silver, air-twisting tail-
How many creatures in the night
Have, in their flight to safety, taken pause-
And felt the sudden tearing of your crooked claws?

Creature of yowling, writhing wail
And green-globe eyes in the light,
How many centuries winding past
Are met in your racial memories flight
As you creep and crawl in the shadow of night?

You who have known the Keepers of the Nile,
You of the eerie, golden eye,
You of the secret, knowing smile- Memphis.

© 1976 Eschate