ALBINO PEACOCK

You are unreal! White drift along hot wall,
Like snow among the ivy; gap in the shade;
Resting, cotton-white; the damask fall
Of trailing feathers bids the shadows fade.

Peacock glory white-washed! Negative splendour!
Blank nothing where the dazzling shades should shimmer.
No sheen or sparkle to make light your friend or
Tease the shadows with a dancing glimmer.

A cut-out on the path; blank vacancy;
Your bridal train of nothing drains our mind.
Pure feathered emptiness! Sheer nullity!
Our thoughts spin dizzy as we step behind.

White doves have never challenged my belief,
Nor trailed me, captive, in their fluttering track,
But here my wild surmise gets no relief.
I gaze, dumbfounded, at your plain white back.