The 3rd house in astrology is associated with writing, conversation, personal thoughts, day-to-day things, siblings and neighbors.
This poem was written in response to the WGBH Here and Now Poetry Challenge on May 20, 2002. The challenge was "Vantage Verse": poetry about a specific object from different points of view. The model was Wallace Stevens’ Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Crow as well as corresponding poems by WGBH roving poets, Jim Behrle (13 Ways of Looking at Someone Else's Girlfriend) and Molly Saccardo (Trapped). My poem was mentioned on the program that aired
13 Ways of Looking at a Fox
1.
He trots along the roadside
sleek as someone's housecat.
But no! A fox in broad daylight.
2.
A fox hunts by stealth and camoflage,
unexpected moves are to be expected.
Be warned: danger lurks ahead.
3.
A single woman hunts by camoflage,
no quick moves, calculated casual,
dressed and made-up pretty, as expected.
4.
All around his house are field & stream.
He watches coyotes hunt geese from his window,
his shotgun and rifle stashed out of sight.
5.
The fox is a chameleon, changing his coat
and his ways with subtle cunning.
He observes first, then makes his move.
6.
The house is clean for her comfort, wine poured,
thawed wild pheasant waiting on the counter.
This hunter knows his Julia Child.
7.
Unlike some humans, foxes are monogamous.
Even so, she is called a vixen and he is called a dog.
It is Spring, the mating season for foxes.
8.
She observes the way he wields the knife,
his pride in the sharpness of his blade
that easily slices through breast bone and wing.
9.
Foxes live by the sharpness of their senses,
their keen sense of smell and sight
serve both to hunt and to avoid the trap.
10.
The meal he sets out is tasty and tender.
She licks the sauce from her fingers,
watching him ply the wine.
11.
Coyotes are like foxes, though bigger and stronger.
As legend has it, they too are wily, yes -
but they get tripped up in their own tricks.
12.
He has miscalculated the ratio of glass to glass.
Careless, he doesn't notice her muscles poise,
her eyes narrow and shift toward the door.
13.
Racing away in her car, she smiles.
The fox, notorious poultry thief,
has made off with a juicy one - and nary a scratch.