Go Ahead, Make My Day

Do not despair of life. Think of the fox, prowling in a winter night to satisfy his hunger. His race survives; I do not believe any of them ever committed suicide. - Thoreau

red fox

a cold february day

some snow on the ground

but not under the giant pine in the back yard

the ground there was bare

because of the canopy of the tree and the warm sun

so you decided to stop and take a nap

curled up in a ball

at the base of the tree

basking in the full midday sun

safe and warm

because you could

because you would

because you should

because it's your world

i stared out the window in amazement

my mouth hung open

just watching you sleep

admiring your adroit beauty

your brillaint, reddish coat

your black boots

your puffy tail

sly, playful eyes

smart ears, nose and whiskers

thank you for gracing me with your presence

i'll never forget you

coloring my grey

showing me the way

speaking without opening your mouth to say

making my day

owl

i was made aware of your presence by your hortative hoot

your call that cut through the woods and permeated the atmosphere

i ran outside to look for you

panicking because i could not find you

but i kept scanning the trees and followed your call

at last

success

there you were

in all of your majesty and splendor

i stood looking up in shock and awe

frozen

paralyzed

i watched you turn your head from side to side

almost three hundred and sixty degrees

your beak

your eyes

your sheer and utter size

then

as quickly as you had come

you took off

like a boeing 747

i could hear the whoosh of your flaps

thank you for visiting

for allowing me the privilege of seeing you

i'll never forget you

come again

any time

thank you for making the climb

because you give my life a reason to rhyme

Author's Note

“I rejoice that there are owls. Let them do the idiotic and maniacal hooting for men. It is a sound admirably suited to swamps and twilight woods which no day illustrates, suggesting a vast and undeveloped nature which men have not recognized. They represent the stark twilight and unsatisfied thoughts which all have. All day the sun has shown on the surface of some savage swamp, where the double spruce stands hung with usnea lichens, and small hawks circulate above, and the chickadee lisps amid the evergreens, and the partridge and rabbit skulk beneath; and now a more dismal and fitting day dawns, and a different race of creatures awakes to express the meaning of Nature there.” - Thoreau

Reviews

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

Ah, this poem is amazing. I love the journey in these words. The details are very nice too. Fun fact about owls, though I understand your point in your poem, but a owl's wings are silent even when big. You can't hear them fly or their wings flap which is amazing. Either way, wonderful poem. Tyfs

[Pete]

actually i think it was the rush of air that his wings displaced that i could hear - that whoosh whoosh of air because it was so quiet in the woods. it was amazing and sometimes i would hear the hooting as i slept with the windows open. thank you for sharing ... :)

[barleygirl]

Fox: those lines starting with "because" are hugely effective & meaningful & thought-provoking. I aspire to live as you express in these lines, as do sentient beings. Further, I relate to the truth that I can summon a mental vision of every close encounter with a wild being from thru-out my entire long life!

Owl: "hortative hoot" is so irresistible, I might have to hijack it soon *wink! wink!* The head-turning description is unforgettable, as is the 747 takeoff. But why a 747? Why not some other make of aircraft, bigger, more profound maybe? I don't know. Maybe I might've used a more generic reference to aircraft . . .

I've included owls in quite a few of my writings, a totem that calls to me as well. I've never written about a fox, tho, & I may have to remedy that soon. Maybe I'll see one to inspire me! With only 1.5" of rain since last spring, all the critters are coming in close to the creek & eyeing my garden thru the fence. I'm bound to see a fox someday . . . (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Pete]

these are both accounts of the experience when they each visited me at my house in the woods. they were amazing. what aircraft would you recommend for owl? another time i was visited by a small herd of deer. they came out of the woods into the clearing in my back yard. when i looked out my window, they were all lying down, resting. it was amazing. there's also the wild turkey visits. one time i went out to get a closer look and one turkey started chasing me as i ran for cover in the garage. he came into the garage after me (that would make good fodder for a write - a wild turkey chasing me into the garage) ... :)

[barleygirl]

Love this share *smile* Great animal visions . . .