Magic Fox
©January 16th, 2019
By Vijaya Sundaram
Magic Fox with tail of fire
And eyes as gold as flame,
And ears as sharp as winter air,
And silent feet like ballet shoes
Will you let me come close? –
Magic Fox with fear-filled eyes
With hunger etching ribs
And shrunken stomach full of want
And finest whiskers tasting air –
– Or, will you run away?
Tentative, you stand and stare,
And move your slinking flank.
And edge backwards, then sidle up,
Like half-seen verbs that slip away
Before a sentence forms.
I’ll not try befriending you,
Though I will do no harm.
For if I make you trust me now,
Will someone else cause cruel pain?
And so, I’ll say goodbye.
Goodbye, Fox, I give you thanks
For slipping through my life.
Your flaming pelt and liquid eyes
Will linger long behind my own
In heavy-lidded sleep.
_______________________________________