TO VICTOR HUGO OF MY CROW PLUTO
“Even when the bird is walking we know that it has wings.” — Victor Hugo

by Marianne Moore

Of:

my crow
Pluto,

the true
Plato,

azzurro-
negro

green-blue
rainbow,

Victor Hugo,
it is true

we know
that the crow

“has wings” how-
ever pigeon-toed

inturned on grass. We do
(adagio)

Vivo-
rosso

“corvo”;
although

con dizio-
nario

io parlo
Italiano-

this pseudo
Esperanto

which, savio
ucello,

you speak too-
my vow and motto

(botto e totto)
io giuro

e questo
credo:

lucro
e peso morto.

And so
dear crow-

gioiello
mio-

I have to
let you go;

a bel bosco
generoso,

tuttuto
vagabondo,

serafino
uvacceo.

Sunto,
oltremarino

verecondo
Plato, addio.