Fox at Easter

'Night Fox, Night Girl' by William Yates (permission awaited)

3am. I am awake

alive to the night

that bears me into day

dawn vigil in my church of lucent walls

candles call, a bloom of flowers,

to praise the Paschal light.

And yet fear stalks me

I am woman-bound,

dare not prowl the dark,

raise my haunches to the moon

for fear of men who wait and watch

and while and wile the night.

Fox take my prayers

howl grace notes to the night

sing praise songs to the wild

of countryside and Bankside

in your certain stride you hold

my Liberty, Libera me.

4am. My senses keen

I bind my heartbeat to the witches' briar

weave protection from my fear

with thorns of green and guile

open the door, scent the air

my hunger gives me paws.

Four foxes call me out

they trail and track and pad-push

the boundaries of night

and fright, I am woman-wild

I will not be denied. I am amber-eyed.

My defiance has claws.

5am. I step into the church and howl a silent prayer.

I am fox-blessed and alive!