Glaucopis

John Fane Dingle

By Rumney Brook

Shot a crop-eared owl,

For pigeon mistook:

Caught her by the lax wing.

—She, as she dies,

Thrills his warm soul through

With her deep eyes.

Corpse-eyes are eerie:

Tiger-eyes fierce:

John Fane Dingle found

Owl-eyes worse.

Owl-eyes on night-clouds,

Constant as Fate:

Owl-eyes in baby’s face:

On dish and plate:

Owl-eyes, without sound.

—Pale of hue

John died of no complaint,

With owl-eyes too.