Gladdening

    Feed them some small treat.

    Notice the surprised forward flick of ears，

    the lightening and softening

    of their large， beautiful eyes.

    How kindly they look on you

    the next time you approach.

    You are not the first to have discovered this.

    Soldiers， winter-camped

    on drear ill-chosen marshes，

    where the great cat Starvation

    lifted her paw，

    allowed me and beasts to creep

    a few inches away from death，

    and lay wriggling her haunches，

    ready to spring——

    these soldiers heartened themselves

    by saving morsels of biscuit，

    warmed themselves， briefly，

    in their horses' gladdening eyes.

    1700s Europe