Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

The scene a valley falling in steep angle to my left
slowly levelling off to a flat landscape.
The hot summer sky swollen and full of anger
forces into birth an advancing thunderstorm.
Tree canopies start to sway with excited charged electrons
causing heavens colour to transform into deep evolving
stages of metamorphosis.
Turning blue into dazzling shades of threatening black
and turkish delight, invading fork lightning rips right
through the tormented skies fragile membrane, impregnating
the surrounding wilderness in atmospheres of excitement and
natural wonder.

Down in the valley I sight a dog fox that
has stopped to sniff at the restless storm.
He moves of f with soft graceful footsteps to the hollow
trunk of an old ash tree, in search of fledglings.
After close examination the fox runs off seeking out other
available prey.
I have now become aware of a low crawling body posture to his
                                                                                       stalking.
He has become almost invisible to his selected kill,
silent and undetected like a stealth bomber.
He pounces high into the air,
back beautifully arched, ears erect and held forward,
front legs tucked tightly close to his chest, his brush held
aloft like a red-hot burning comet streaking across a cosmos of
                                                                                       green.
He misses his chosen quarry, a foraging crow who now awkwardly
                                                                                               takes
flight, cawing in surprised fear.

The dog fox unperturbed by his failed attack moves on
using the tall dancing summer grass and wild flowers as organic
                                                                             camouflage.
Studying him now from close proximity
I can see that this creatures condition is immaculate.
A body that is muscular and well shaped,
streamline even powerful, natures primed athlete.
To my mind this impressive animal has become a
unique artists canvas, heavily splashed and mixed with
variations of red.

I observe the fox lifting his right hind leg
marking a twig with pungent scent, thus
claiming territorial land ownership and birthright.

Running across wide open pastureland
I lose sight of this inspiring dog fox, who
now fades like a ghost lost in mist.