The Bull

It is in captivity ringed, haltered, chained
to a drag the bull is godlike

Unlike the cows
he lives alone, nozzles
the sweet grass gingerly
to pass the time away

he kneels, lies down
and stretching out
a foreleg licks himself
about the hoof

then stays
with halfclosed eyes :
Olympian commentary on
the bright passage of days.

The great sun
smoots his laquer
through
the glossy pinetrees

his substance hard
as ivory or glass -
through which the wind
yet plays

Milkless

he nods
the hair between his horns
and eyes matted
with nyacynthine curls.

William Carlos Williams
9 Ridge Rd. Rutherford, N.J.