PEACOCK NIGHT

Therefore the black fan, white-and-prism-eyed,
was opened, and that emblematic bird
erected over us the rest of pride.

Not in displaying darkness to be heard,
the witch-cry of his prophecy: he kept
his bleak - our amorous - council, and his word.

And so the lovers and the augur slept,
three lulling three with breath and with no fear;
and it was only light that Argus wept.

Never awaken for the dream you hear
from his upraised his mantic throat: endure
whatever nights enfold each other: dear,

the auspice of the peacock is unsure.