Cold, delicately as the dark snow, A fox's nose touches twig, leaf; Two eyes serve a movement, that now And again now, and now, and now Sets neat prints into the snow.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker observes a fox moving quietly through the snow with delicate precision.
- In plain terms
- A fox moves softly through the snow leaving tracks.
- What can you take from it?
- Nature moves with quiet grace and precision.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What quiet details do you notice?
- How do animals move?
Another view
The perspective assumes the observer can see clearly in snow.
More from Ted Hughes
With a sudden sharp hot stink of fox, It enters the dark hole of the head. The window is starless still; the clock ticks, The page is printed.
Permalink to quote #2 Pike, three inches long, perfect Pike in all parts, green tigering the gold. Killers from the egg: the malevolent aged grin.
Permalink to quote #3 The jaws' hooked clamp and fangs Not to be changed at this date; A life subdued to its instrument.
Permalink to quote #4
Related quotes
New York is part of the natural world. I love the city, I love the country, and for the same reasons. The city is part of the country. When I had an apartment …
E. B. (Elwyn Brooks) WhiteE. B. (Elwyn Brooks) White quote #37 These seem like bristles, and the hide is tough. No claw or web here: each foot ends in hoof.
Thom GunnThom Gunn quote #1 There's nothing in the middle of the road but a yellow stripe and dead armadillos.
Jim HightowerJim Hightower quote #1