Fox Tales International

Americana, Ecological & International Storytelling

Education and Inspiration through the ancient art of storytelling!

Red Fox Excerpt

SONG OF THE RED FOX

I am the hunter of mice
yelping on a cold winter night.
I am the one who snatched the cheese
from the singing crow’s beak.
I am the eater of grapes
because I knew they were sweet
and I did not give up.
I love hens and will let a few of you
grease my chin
before I leave this town-o, town-o.
And I was not fooled by the lion’s complaining,
feigning illness,
to devour my brethren.

You know me as sly, cunning, a trickster,
but did you also know
that I sang the world into being?
I am friend to coyote
and can call life back into his limp body
after yet another fatal mistake.

I am Reynard, I am Zorro, I am Kitsunami,

I am the red fox.

Wise men respect my council.
You, too, can learn from my kin.

RED FOX REVISITED

I am the swift one.

I have sharp ears
for hearing voles digging
under a foot of snow.

I have a keen nose
for sniffing out danger
and avoiding the dogs on the hunt.

I can fly higher and faster than the quail,

leaping and twisting,
pouncing on my lunch.

I am the runner, the digger, the leaper.

Mice shiver when they hear me yelp.
Vixen melt with my caress.
I am the hunter, lover of life, caring father
and guardian of the forests and fields.

The prairie burns with the red flame

of my swishing tail,
often all you will see of me,
if you are lucky enough
to catch a glimpse at all.

But you should know
that I am watching
always watching
you
when you enter my terrain.
You should know
that I,
I am the red fox,
and I know the hidden trails
of my domain.



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