How to Catch Unicorns

Its cloven hoofprint on the sand Will lead you—where? Into a phantasmagoric land— Beware! There all the bright streams run up-hill. The birds on every tree are still. But from stocks and stones, clear voices come That should be dumb. If you have taken along a net, A noose, a prod, You'll be waiting in the forest yet... Nid—nod! In a virgin's lap the beast slept sound, They say ... but I— I think (Is anyone around?) That's lust a lie! If you have taken a musketoon To flinders 'twill flash 'neath the wizard moon. So I should take browned batter-cake, Hot-buttered inside, like foam to flake. And I should take an easy heart And a whimsical face, And a tied-up lunch of sandwich and tart, And spread a cloth in the open chase. And then I should pretend to snore... And I'd hear a snort and I'd hear a roar, The wind of a mane and a tail, and four Wild hoofs prancing the forest-floor. And I'd open my eyes on a flashing horn— And see the Unicorn! Paladins fierce and virgins sweet... But he's never had anything to eat! Knights have tramped in their iron-mong'ry... But nobody thought—that's all!—he's hungry! ADDENDUM Really hungry! Good Lord deliver us, The Unicorn is not carnivorous!