“Xaipe” by Ernest Hilbert
by Ernie on 31/03/08 at 10:24 am
XAIPE
She perches as a small sphinx on the arm
Of the leather recliner where I read—
Lint-light gargoyle, stray smudge of screen static,
Soft undersea flow of volcanic ash,
Striated with wisps of white. You could paint
Her for years, she’s so superb. Her alarm
Amuses me. For no reason she’ll speed
Off, ears flattened to fight, eyes bold with panic.
In the window’s tall frame, far off and faint,
Tiger stripes streak a cloud as it slinks past.
Note: “Xaipe” is an ancient and modern Greek word that roughly corresponds to our word “rejoice.” It is used as a greeting. I believe it is pronounced “kai-ray,” though my Greek pronunciation is surely as mush-mouthed as my French. When she’s in trouble, we address her as “Zaipay!” Xaipe is also the title of a collection of poetry by e.e. cummings. You can see her sneaking up behind me, in the crook of my arm, in the photograph below.
