Close Encounter

In the country yesterday,
My morning walk was slowed
When suddenly I saw a fox
Just standing in the road.

It looked at me and made a sound,
More like a yip than bark;
Then turned and dashed into the woods –
Its sudden absence stark.

Before it vanished from my view,
It stared at me once more;
And then it yipped again in case
I’d missed the hint before.

A man appeared and filled me in:
He’d seen a mama vixen
Playing with her kits nearby;
She’d warned me not to mix in.

I was rather nervous, hoping
She would not come back.
All the time I headed home
I pictured an attack.

The fox and I felt just the same;
That’s why we both recoiled.
Neither one of us would let
Our Mothers’ Day get spoiled.