One animal is ugly but benign.
The other is unwelcome beauty here.
Today I watched them nearly meet, and veer.

The house cat has a graceful soft design.
The young marsupial is slow and drear.
One animal is ugly but benign.
The other is unwelcome beauty here.

The cat kills birds – its shit and puke malign –
but possum feeds on ticks. The yard is clear
of possum scat – the cat should disappear.
One animal is ugly but benign.
The other is unwelcome beauty here.
Today I watched them nearly meet, and veer.

(English Madrigal)