Poetry Blog No 119 First Fox

FIRST FOX

This poem was written after coming to live in the country and was prompted by my first observation of a wild fox. Foxes are, of course, not native to Australia and they are classed as imported vermin. Apart from stealing people's hens, they do damage to native wild life, although they do also eat rabbits (another major pest in Australia). I have tried to mirror the quickness and alertness of the fox in the sounds and the basic anapaestic rhythm of the verse- O-ver neigh-bour-ing, win-ter-wet padd- ocks you passed (strong syllables in bold). To hear the effect it helps to read it aloud.

 

FIRST FOX

Over neighbouring, winter – wet paddocks you passed,

Hunting – hungry from shelter in hills after rain,

Just the flash of a form, like a swift, orange flame,

Just so fugitive, furtive and feral and fast,

That at first eyes might miss it, except that on green

That burnt colour is startling; a shape lithe and lean,

With your bushy, bright brush.

Though you’re classed as invader,

As mere vermin, unwanted, a sly chicken – raider,

You’re so poised in alertness, and ready to act,

That I cannot help feeling a certain respect,

As you vanish in silence like a leaf on the wind;

First fox that I’ve seen since I’ve lived on this land.