VENUS IN VIRGO

The yellow fog that rubs its back
against the windowpanes,
The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle
on the windowpanes
Licked its tongue
into the corners of the evening,
Lingered upon the pools that stand in drains,
Let fall upon its back
the soot that falls from chimneys,
Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap,
And seeing that it was a soft October night,
Curled once about the house,
and went to sleep.