Ancient Eyes

She watches me with ancient eyes,
Of Egypt and of Crete,
All-knowing, and all-seeing, yet
So silent and discreet.

The stillness of her eyes remains
A mystery to me,
For somehow I am sure she sees,
Scenes I shall never see.

Perhaps she prowls in Ninevah
Through promenades long gone,
A Hittite court, a Roman square,
A path in Babylon.

Perhaps she stalks the jungle,
On some shadowed thoroughfare,
Or waits, as now, in silence,
As her prey comes saunt'ring there.

Sometimes I think, perhaps she'll share,
The answers that I seek.
What does she see, what does she know?
If only she would speak

But though I stare into her eyes
On some audacious days,
Her pity overwhelms me and,
I must avert my gaze.

Sometimes I catch her yawning
As she wanders through the past,
I think, she's tired of musing,
and her reverie won't last.

And then she turns and looks at me,
So silent and so wise,
Disquieted, I turn away,
Before her ancient eyes.

© Oscar Brand
"I LOVE CATS"

Used with permission
**KC**