I saw a fox this morning
bright and russet
and all alert to the magpies
hopping and mobbing around
as she turned over the compostings
chasing a mouse or looking for good scraps to eat

and I stopped
bright also and far too obvious
in a red jacket on the path
and she did not notice me
but – starting – scared off the magpies

and only then looked up
eyes and ears fixed upon me

I stepped back and she ran
fluid and easy across turned earth