Vita Sackville-West - The Greater Cats lyrics

The greater cats with golden eyes Stare out between the bars. Deserts are there, and the different skies, And night with different stars. They prowl the aromatic hill, And mate as fiercely as they k**, To roam, to live, to drink their fill; But this beyond their wit know I: Man loves a little, and for long shall die. Their kind across the desert range Where tulips spring from stones, Not knowing they will suffer change Or vultures pick their bones. Their strength's eternal in their sight, They overtake the deer in flight, And in their arrogance they smite; But I am sage, if they are strong: Man's love is transient as his d**h is long. Yet oh what powers to deceive! My wit is turned to faith, And at this moment I believe In love, and scout at d**h. I came from nowhere, and shall be Strong, steadfast, swift, eternally: I am a lion, a stone, a tree, And as the Polar star in me Is fixed my constant heart on thee. Ah, may I stay forever blind With lions, tigers, leopards, and their kind.