Red Fox

[Sweet Pea the Malamute]

This poem is about the college where I work. They say they have equal right for gays, but they don’t offer any benefits for partners, and I’ve been with my mate a long time, and he has no insurance. They offer these juicy benefits if you’re married, but I can’t be married. Anyway, he broke his arm, needed wrist surgery, and it a huge mess. The higher ups and the board of regents always strike down the notion of benefits for same sex partners, and this poem springs from being angry over that…among other things!!

red fox

Stalking unseen up marble stairs
into the Administration building
where they find new ways to pay us nothing
my gold eyes fixed forward
I scent the regents
clucking in their Ivory coop
& crouch,
staring at their fat underbellies.
This is the time.
I leap in a wide ark
& slam a head down hard,
& grip the neck in my mouth
teeth breaking the tendons
until the body droops,
& the blood trickles thinly down my throat,
warm and metallic.
Running home,
eyes dart side to side
past the lights, the oncoming traffic,
into the woods,
the trophy heavy against my jaws,
my kits peer hungry from the den,
jaws already open.
I drop the bird in a blizzard of feathers,
& that storm of teeth tear in,
piercing the wings,
the breast,
the heart,
the half formed eggs:
Content that the world is as it is.


Sweet Pea, 2008

[Fleur-de-Lis]

Powerful... I'm few on words when it comes to reviewing writing. I wish it weren't so, because I feel so many emotions when I read poetry. (Maybe that's a sign I should write more? Not being able to express emotion through words isn't very good.)

There is a picture drawn by MEK of FurAffinity named "Props to 8". I could only think of that after reading your poem. You might appreciate the little picture; I didn't see many reviews about Prop. 8 in the furry world, and I am disappointed for that. My best wishes for you and your mate.

As for me? I've yet to find a heart, so wish for me as well!

[Killian]

Equality is always sought after.

I loved your poem, I strangely don't usually like poems or give them a second glance. but yours made sense. I understood it. It is well written with a good message behind it...

but isnt it a bit unfair the couples get benefits when people who are on their own don't? is it not harder to live on your own rather than have a partner.

Unless ofcourse your partner doesn't work in which case it can be harder.

[Sweet Pea the Malamute]

Hi Fluer-de-Lis and Killian, thanks for the kind words about the poem, if I was a kitty, I’d be purring now, but as a Malamute, just have that Husky-kinda smile.

Fluer, hoping you find that ‘heart’……I never thought it would happen, but have been with my bf for some years now. At one point, I was at an almost suicidal point of loneliness, because I just didn’t seem to mesh with ‘the gay community’, or find any real connection to it. But then I ended up going out with a friend I already knew and had no idea was gay.... it all seemed like some strange coincidence. I will prey to the Malamute spirits to send somebody your way……….

Killian, gald you liked the poem. I try to write in a direct, ‘narrative’ style, and not be too flowery. I agree everyone should have healthcare, funny how we spend taxes on it for elected officials and any other governme t worker, but often can’t afford it ourselves. In some ways, the poem was sparked by this dilemma, but in broader terms, it was more about inequality in general, the struggle for power, and looking at this of a predator and prey anolgy.

I’ll post a few more poems soon, I have one called Aardvark, and another called Owl, but they need a little work

Very cool to get some feedback, made me feel very welcome, being new here.

*wags*

SP

[Fleur-de-Lis]

Fluer, hoping you find that ‘heart’……I never thought it would happen, but have been with my bf for some years now. At one point, I was at an almost suicidal point of loneliness, because I just didn’t seem to mesh with ‘the gay community’, or find any real connection to it. But then I ended up going out with a friend I already knew and had no idea was gay.... it all seemed like some strange coincidence. I will prey to the Malamute spirits to send somebody your way……….

Thanks Sweet Pea. I'd love to see more of your work. I have a soft spot for motivated poetry.

[Sweet Pea the Malamute]

Hey Fleur, thanks again. I’m revising a few more animal poems, and will post them, soon…..but thnaks so much for the encouragement. I really hope to get the writers thread more active, by posting, offering encouragement, and helping others. More to come, soon!

*Wags*

SP