Toulouse the fox
Woke up for the night
Nuzzled his cubs
Yawning with sleep
Hungry for food
Looking right then left
He moved his head
To follow the cubs
Prodding with paws
Nudging with noses
Pushing him to hunt
Bringing back supper
Toulouse the fox
Crawled out of their den
Across the lawn
And by the pond
Searching for food
Looking right then left
He moved his head
To follow the fish
Gliding across
Skimming the surface
Through lilies and reeds.
Too slippery to catch
Toulouse the fox
Crept out of the gate
Past the wall
And down the street
Sniffing for food
Looking right then left
He moved his head
To follow the dog
Shuffling away
Around the cans
By metal dustbins.
Too big to strike
Toulouse the fox
Crept over the street
Past the cars
And into the grass
Hunting for food
Looking right then left
He moved his head
To follow the cat
Sliding silently
Through the leaves
From blown about trees.
Too fast to catch
Toulouse the fox
Crept over the grass
Past the bushes
And onto the railway.
Foraging for food
Looking right then left
He moved his head
To follow the mouse
Slipping over
The sleepers
Between the train tracks.
Too quiet to hear
Toulouse the fox
Crept over the railway
Past the stones
And onto the bridge
Spying for food
Looking right then left
He moved his head
To follow the owl
Swooping down
Under the arches
Of damp crumbling bricks
Too high to reach
Toulouse the fox
Crept over the bridge
Past the park
And into the playground.
Listening for food
Looking right then left
He moved his head
To follow the bat
Darting upwards
Under the bars
Of colourful swings.
Too dark to see
Toulouse the fox
Crept over the playground
Past the swings
And onto the road
Now desperate for food
Looking right then left
He moved his head
To follow the van
Driving carefully
Brushing the gutters
Sweeping up rubbish
No leftovers to eat
Toulouse the fox
Crept back to his street
Past the wall
And through the gate
Now sensing food
Looking right then left
He moved his head
To follow the girl
Opening the door
Putting down the plate
Near the bottom step
So easy to reach
Toulouse the fox
Crept by the step
Stopped at the edge
Squatting over the plate
Looking right then left
He moved his head
To call to his cubs
Who followed the smell
Rising to their noses
Then licking their lips
They began to eat
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