The little bird <br />somehow <br />escapes the cat <br /> <br />but can't escape <br />the Death <br />that beats <br />under its feathers <br /> <br />bloodied in my hands <br />that hold it <br />I cradle it <br />& cry <br /> <br />the bird imaging <br />that when you die <br />a Great God <br />comes <br /> <br />takes you gently <br />in its hands <br />& bathes you <br />in its tears <br /> <br />a sunset <br />staining a sky <br />that is <br />fading <br />fading. <br /> <br /> <br />******* <br /> <br /> <br />IN THE MYTHOLOGY OF FOXES <br /> <br />The foxes blood <br />on the stone <br />still there two days <br />after <br /> <br />staring at me. <br />Only the day before <br />a daring raider <br /> <br />of my uncle's henhouse <br />the talk of our household. <br />But my uncle was patient <br />& stalked the lonely hourds <br /> <br />until the fox <br />came to meet her death <br />thinking only of her cubs <br />& how big & bright <br /> <br />the moon loomed <br />tonight <br />and how the fearful thunder <br />of the gun <br /> <br />had ended <br />everything <br />and how now <br />shot through the head <br /> <br />her carcass thrown <br />behind a hedge <br />she finds herself <br />still staring bak <br /> <br />into the mind <br />of the little boy <br />even more aware <br />of her presence <br /> <br />now that nothing <br />exists <br />and how for <br />ever after <br /> <br />the boy <br />carries her death <br />cradling it <br />in his mind <br /> <br />trying to comfort <br />her <br />with his human <br />tears.<br /><br />Dónall Dempsey<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-the-mythology-of-birds-foxes/
