Purple Rhinoceros Bird
a surreal narrative poem about a poet cat.

<< BACK

Page 5 Purple Rhinoceros Bird

The Feast of

all these Books

and Art and Time

spent in Study.

It is my

Genius Art. If you

can not see that, Cat.

You are Lost."

A laugh Scratch’d through

him, but its Rhythm

did not pick me

up. It Small’d me.

We stoned

silence

at each other.

I fissured first.

"Master, though Mind

Sees Bones Feast

To Eat Kills

Body and Self."

"NonSense."

He humf’d,

swallowing

his bitter.

"NonSense, Cat.

You speak NonSense.

Now do it, or

go away."

The Worms Ate my Heart.

I still’d,

heard the

Gold Rain Fall,

and spoke it.

"Master,

Birds Sing One Song, Their Own.

Others-Wise Kills Pebbles Death.

Singing Stones hold them Gentle

in Teeth, for God to be.

Willow Bows Willingly

and Drinks Deep SageWater Well.

Agreed?"

"NonSense Cat.

NonSense.

Do it or

get out."

The Worms ate Themselves.

I placed the Bone

in the Bird’s Beak

and bit it sing

the Mourning Song.

It Choked,

swallowed

the Bone

and died.

"NonSense!"

He wailed like

a nail pull’d

from wood.

"All of this

NonSense!"

He rail’d

at the room.

He rage’d, thrash’d

Books, smash’d art,

and pile debris

high on the floor.

"NonSense!

All!

This!

NonSense!"

He crumpled,

broken

on the pile

and wept.

A short Still Walk’d through.

I watch’d Suck’d breath heave

his Back and Blood

Trickle his Palms.

The Worms Resurrect’d my Heart.

Licking the Warm

Red Salt from his

Cuts, I Purr’d,

"Master Why?"

Looking up

- tears hung

on weak lips -

he spoke.

"Because

Quarks have

no smallest

Vleep, and

The Eye turns

things Upside

Down, but Not

Upside Right,

and I have Choice but

the Machinery

of my heart disapproves

that, and God does not

Exist, but Man

has One Less Rib,

and Bees Bumble

Fly! Understand?"

>> Page 6