City Fox

An observation in prose

Looking into one of the evenly divided screens mounted on the magnolia wall,
The camera focusses on a slight blight in the garden.
The mattress thrown out of the window from the third floor
Now seems to have another use than just mere urban clutter.
The blot barely moves, but is enough to intrigue movement
Among the ranks.
The fire door is unbolted, a sharpe left is taken into the corridor.
Not used to the area, I stumble briefly on piece of ragged upturned carpet.
Gathering myself I continue down the steps and take time to analyse
the system of safety preventing the outside world from creeping into the building.
Three locks, evenly spread vertically along the far edge of the door frame.
The glass is wet but there is no rain as far as I can tell.
Only dappled sunlight flickers through the leaves. I think it’s summer,
but the seasons are all the same. At least that’s what I think I need to say.
Turning the handle, with a hope that my feet creeping along the rusting
Stair well won’t force an untimely exit.
The mattress, clumsy in the grass, looks bigger. There is a
hole in the shed roof. The broken furniture inside the wooden frame rotting into one piece.
My eyes re-focus on the mattress, and to the splendour of the city fox lying amid
The dampened blue and white checks, springs intact within seams.
Nutmeg coat gleaming in the light sun strokes scaling the wall.
It’s the middle of the day in North London. I’m not used to such a sight.
The rustle of the leaves a seemingly perfect compliment to the rust orange
Fur coat before me. The garden space is completely enclosed.
Red brick walls align crumbling borders separating terrace house from terrace
House. The back gate jams on the pile of rubbish that has accumulated in yet another
Unkempt corner of the property. The fox must have jumped or clambered from the alley
Way leading out to the main pothole filled street where you wouldn’t dare lock up a bike.
Still on the mattress, the stream of sunlight is brighter now. The red creature starts to stretch
Out a paw onto to another into a sturdy cross in front of a charming, awakening jaw.
From this angle, atop the external stair case I can also see a young bald man attempting to roll a
Cigarette. The wind is playing with the plastic and paper decorations of the city.
The fox is disturbed by the movement. Rain starts to spatter my forehead, the English summer
of constant change invokes a transition for people and animals squatting the fresh air.I look back to the mattress, the empty mattress. The fox has gone. Nowhere to be seen. I
glance across the city scape directions not blocked by brickwork.
Nothing of note keeps me in the rain, I return, turning my back on the urban, the frantic, the
mundane.

Reviews

[Silmara McGarry]

Wonderful imaginary, superb description of words!
I really enjoy it, Anna!!!

[Anna Moore]

So happy you are enjoying the work. I look forward to reading more of yours also.

[Silmara McGarry]

You are welcome! ;-)

[B]

Really wonderful
For some reason i keep thinking the exit of the fox
brings peace to this place
And another item that stood out are the locks on the door
the first thing i check when i come into a new country are the locks on the doors
tells alot about the way people live

Really cool piece

[Anna Moore]

SoloSolaca, thank you for you words of encouragement.

[Alice Maria]

Very nice free write. A lot of good use of imagery.

[Anna Moore]

Thank you Alice :)

[Alice Maria]

You are welcome 😄

[matrixmark]

Great use of descriptive words, in my eyes it felt like a short story being told rather than a poem. So many vast and very very vibrant colours, sights, sounds and smells. I could clearly see the imagery which you painted with your pen - all the way from the matress to the red crumbling bricks of londons town. Even the inbetween bits which included the rusltling leaves and the bald man lighting a cigarette - You built the picture up really well inside the minds eye.

Thank you for the imagery. It was a joy to have read.

[Anna Moore]

Thank you matrixmark. Really glad you like it.

[matrixmark]

Happy to have read it.

Mark.

[Anna Moore]

Thank you, I have posted some more work today and would love to know your thoughts if you have the time...