Friday, October 11, 2024

Good Bye Fox, by Mary Oliver

 GOOD-BYE FOX  

He was lying under a tree, licking up the shade.

Hello again, Fox, I said.

And hello to you too, said Fox, looking up and not bounding away.

You're not running away? I said.

Well, I've heard of your conversation about us. News travels even among foxes, as you might know or not know.

What conversations do you mean?

Some lady said to you, "The hunt is good for the fox."

And you said, "Which fox?"

Yes, I remember. She was huffed.

So you're okay in my book.

Your book! That was in my book, that's the difference between us. 

Yes, I agree. You fuss over life with your clever

words, mulling and chewing on its meaning, while

we just live it. 


Oh!


Could anyone figure it out, to a finality? So

why spend so much time trying. You fuss, we live.

And he stood, slowly, for he was old now, and

ambled away. 

-----

It is unseasonably warm for Wisconsin in October. 80 degrees? Unbelievable.

I sat on my porch at lunchtime. No phone, no book, no music. I listened to the traffic of course, but also the slight hint of wind chimes, birds, trees rustling.

The tree across the street is red on top and green on the bottom. The birds are flitting around, doing their thing. And always the bees in my garden. Bumbling, buzzing. If I stand close enough, I can hear them too.

It made me think about this poem. You fuss over life with your clever words, mulling and chewing on its meaning, while we just live it. 

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