Snow Leopard

T h e S n o w L e o p a r d

In the MetroToronto Zoo

For Paul Strong

He pads on grassy banks behind a fence,
with measured paces slow and tense.

Beyond his cage his thoughts are sharp and white;
he lives a compelled anchorite.

A solid ghost gone blind with all the green,
he waits and waits to be unseen.

Originallly appeared in Poetry, August 2000

Text and images copyright 2006 by Jason Gray. All rights reserved.