February Poem of the Month

Catherine Wylie Poem of the Month March 

Fox Boy

Shelpit  he comes
skulking along the corridor
head down feart watching.

Untamed he is choked by ties
and over his russet head
pulls the white summer shirt
as the bell rings.
He knows as he runs out
with a yelp to the sun
he will be off…
up the hills among the ling
sniffing the air alert listening
for the cry of the buzzard
the scream of the rabbit
caught in the snare.

In winter
the wire of words
tightens round his throat
cutting the white leaving the marks  
blood on his paper sweat in his eyes.

Biting his nails pawing the door
looking to the hills
the whine in his throat
grows to a howl at the cold moon,
glimpsed through the glass
sailing away in the skies.

Biography

Originally from Cheshire, Catherine Wylie has lived in the Stirling area and taught English for a number of years. Currently she works at Alva Academy. She has had work published in New Writing Scotland and Poetry Scotland.