Famous Poems Celebrating the Enigmatic Fox

Foxes: Mysterious Creatures Inspiring Poets Through the Ages

The fox, with its cunning and elusive nature, has long captivated the imagination of poets. From ancient folklore to modern literature, these enigmatic creatures have inspired a plethora of poignant and mesmerizing poems. Let us explore some of the most famous poems about foxes that continue to evoke awe and admiration.

"The Fox" by Robert Louis Stevenson

Look, where he comes again, the Fox,
Stealing softly through the gorse and rocks,
With silent padding tread.
His nose to the ground, his brush held low,
He moves with a stealthy, graceful flow,
As though he were hardly there.

His eyes, like amber, gleam and shine,
As he weaves through the undergrowth's entwine,
A vision of nature's art.
With every step, he marks his trail,
Leaving behind a secret, untold tale,
Of his wild and cunning heart.

"The Thought-Fox" by Ted Hughes

I imagine this midnight moment's forest:
Something else is alive
Beside the clock's loneliness
And this blank page where my fingers move.

Through the window I see no star:
Something more near
Though deeper within darkness
Is entering the loneliness:

Cold, delicately as the dark snow,
A fox's nose touches twig, leaf;
Two eyes serve a movement, that now
And again now, and now, and now

Sets neat prints into the snow
Between trees, and warily a lame
Shadow lags by stump and in hollow
Of a body that is bold to come

Across clearings, an eye,
A widening deepening greenness,
Brilliantly, concentratedly,
Coming about its own business

Till, with sudden sharp hot stink of fox,
It enters the dark hole of the head.
The window is starless still; the clock ticks,
The page is printed.

"The Fox" by D.H. Lawrence

The red fox crosses the ice
intent on none of my business.
It's winter and slim pickings.
I stand in the bushy cemetery,
pretending to watch birds,
but really watching the fox

who could care less.
She pauses on the sheer glare
of the pond. She knows I'm here,
sniffs me in the wind
and suddenly goes slanting east.

That's that. Alone again,
whatever that may mean.
My word! It's a cold morning
in drafts of frigid wind
but the sun is high, the sky is blue,
the sparrows are building their nests,
and the fox goes bounding along.

The Fox's Symbolism in Poetry

Foxes frequently symbolize cunning, adaptability, and a sense of mystique in poetry. As subjects of admiration and intrigue, poets have utilized the fox's characteristics to explore deeper themes. These poems not only capture the essence of the fox but also delve into the complexities of human nature and the world around us.

"Foxes" by Mary Oliver

When I come to the edge of the field
and the last of the light is gone,
in me still the fox howls
and the foxes that have left their red and
their bones behind them

on the pale wind
and the hounds of the leaves
that have torn them to pieces
on the pale wind

in me still the fox howls,
the great clear far call
that is answered by the hill.

"The Fox" by Ogden Nash

The fox has a glandular disorder
And so his tail is a flame.
He lives in a well-appointed den
And eats from a well-stocked game.

"The Fox" by E.E. Cummings

the cunning
of the fox
is as separate
from the cunning
of the hedgehog
as is the
cunning of the
camouflage
from the
cunning of
the approach

Throughout history, poets have skillfully woven words together to honor and explore the elusive nature of foxes. From their cleverness to their mysterious allure, foxes have become emblematic creatures that continue to inspire poets to this day. These famous poems serve as a testament to the timeless fascination and admiration humans hold for these enigmatic beings.