Oyama Morning

The restful sleep of boyish innocence

Awakens, stretches, smiles through dreamy eyes,

Looks over sunlit window ledge and spies

His Labrador, Black Queen, fixed, pointing, tense,

Below the emerald lawn and picket fence,

Stock still, as now the air her black nose tries,

Then delicate with stealth, she steps ... Surprise!

A pheasant cock splits sunlight rays suspense

And arcing, flapping, squalling, climbs the skies,

Squawks window by, a boyish reach away.

Flinch startle back, now pause, now hear him bray

Look forth and see the green, red-golden glide

Fade into drifting dust of growing day,

The flowing tail and wings in angry pride,

Through fresh rose-saffron Canada, immense.