Beauty in Death

How sad!

The red fox was long dead when we found it on GA 86,

 just east of the Lumley place.

Not often do we see such a beautiful animal so close.

Death is the fox poem's theme.

"Hunting Song"

   by Donald Finkel

The fox he came lolloping, lolloping,

Lolloping.  His eyes were bright,

His ears were high.

He was like death at the end of a string

When he came to the hollow

Log.  He ran in one side

And out of the other.  O

He was sly.

The hounds they came tumbling, tumbling,

Tumbling.  Their heads were low,

Their eyes were red.

The sound of their breath was louder than death

When they came to the hollow

Log.  They boiled at one end

But a bitch found the scent.  O

They were mad.

The hunter came galloping, galloping,

Galloping.  All damp was his mare

From her hooves to her mane.

His coat and his mouth were redder than death

When he came the the hollow

Log.  He took in the rein

And over he went.  O

He was fine.

The log he just lay there, alone in 

The clearing.  No fox nor hound

Nor mounted man

Saw his black round eyes in their perfect disguise

(As the ends of a hollow

Log.) He watched death go through him,

Around him and over him.  O

He was wise.