In black chalk the beast
brusques forward   Silence   Rubens
has stopped his mouth
with a single line     He is already
awed by the den
he will find himself in even now
as his mane curls into wisp
of emptiness     A study on paper

But there in white chalk the grim
pose brightens
into recognition smudged nose
bent toward the scent
of viewer     Eyes steadily lighting
toward the years one swift textured paw
lifted ever so slightly
Patient as an avalanche

Kate Middleton