THE LIFE OF A FOX

(a poem by 11 years old Emma) 

Waking up in the dead of the night,

Sleek red coat shining,

Powerful paws pad silently,

Gleaming eyes forever watching.

Presence unknown,

A watchful spy,

The king of the streets,

Seeking a meal, food in mind,

Like everybody else.

A pigeon spotted,

The promise of a meal, the first in days.

It's perched on a low branch,

I'm sorry, you think, but the cubs will starve,

What comes goes, it's the way of life.

You calculate the distance off the ground,

Ears shivering, nose twitching,

Claws out, teeth bared.

Crouching ready.

Silence.

You leap up off the ground.

A squawk.

Carrying the bird, tears in your eyes,

Wishing there was a better way to survive.

Alas, there's no choice, at least there's food tonight.

The cubs are grateful, you can see it in their eyes,

You're glad that they have been fed.

This is the life of a fox, strong and true,

A difficult life, it's so ancient, who knew?

(Emma Dimitrova, my 11 years old daughter, 29/09/2019)