Yearning

kate mora

The forest air was cursed with winds so heavy

and cold. A she fox trembles, hiding

in her den. Her kits claw at her reddish-brown fur, again; a busy

day ahead, they cry out of hunger so intense.

Off she runs into the winter-cold forest, past the thorny bushes

and the river stream, her energy depleting, not like before.

Her fur was thicker then, redder, softer before

she was left alone with kits, too heavy

to carry now. Her milk was useless, their tails were like bushes

now, keeping them warm. She searched for hiding

berries, dark purple or red would do. The forest today was quietly intense.

It was nice. The forest is usually loud and busy.

Across the mountain, she recalls of a highway that’s busy

and loud. A wonderful view lies there, or so she’s heard before.

They claim the lights are glorious and intense.

She’s always wanted to see that view, but can’t because of this heavy

burden of being a mother. She stands still, hiding

her teary eyes from any onlookers, and walks toward the Great Bushes.

Her kits would have run happily as they passed the Great Bushes

just like she used to. But a busy

mother walks with melancholy instead, her rigid fur hiding

the she fox she once was. Before

when she was young and had a mate. Her heart would get heavy

for he was a young fox too. Back when loving someone was intense.

She mindlessly crossed the mountain, blinded by the intense

lights that reflected on her wet eyes. The thorny bushes

would never beat this view. It was beautiful. The heavy

winds couldn’t touch her here. A busy

highway was better than her den. Before

she thought of running past the highway, she saw berries hiding.

The bushes were hiding

mulberries. She reluctantly turns away from the intense

highway lights. She runs across the mountain and the Great Bushes before

walking along the river stream. Her dreadful den near the thorny bushes

finally, are in front of her. But instead, she stops. She doesn’t want this. The busy

highway calls to her. And so, she runs away. Her heart was heavy.

She’s hiding. She doesn’t want to see that den or see those thorny bushes

ever again. She wants her life like before, near foxes she could love. Her intense

yearning of freedom was beyond the busy highway, but wishing death was heavy.