Canidae Central

Fox Prints in the Sand

I sit on the sand
Thinking and wondering
Not knowing who I am.

Behind me – animal tracks
Prints together in large packs
How many? What type?
I know not the facts.

Curious tracks following me
What animal could it be?
Finding tracks in front of me
So I follow them
Curios what I will see.

The prints lead to my home by the rocks
And now I remember – they’re prints of a fox.

Quickly I run to the rocks
On the sand after the fox

Seeing if I can catch a sight
Of its running, dashing, beautiful flight.
But to my sorrow,
It’s gone tonight.
I’ll come back tomorrow
At a new light.

I dream of the beautiful, red intelligent fox
Till dawn and the ringing of the clocks.

Tracking day–in ... day–out
Seeing nothing.
I begin to doubt.

Will I ever see that fox
On the sand
or on the rocks?

One day, troubled by it
Till night fell into a dark violet
Seeing fresh in the sand
Prints I followed
To where I stand.

The water touched my feet
And I looked to see
The fox I wanted to meet.
Looked into his eyes.
What a beautiful creature he be
And to my surprise
The fox was me.


© 2006
Philip Mass