Finalist

When I was searching for a poem

 

a fox stepped out of nowhere.

His long legs stretched across the stone wall.

He paused as we stared,

both wondering where the other was going,

although it was obvious each was wandering—

lost.

I paused as we stared,

both wondering why the other was here,

on a stone wall,

although it was obvious each was,

on a stone wall,

although it was obvious each was

using it for direction—

lost.

He wasn’t a sly fox—

at least I didn’t see it in his eyes.

He was frightened.

I’d never seen a fox before.

I was frightened, too.

There.

A living poem—

a girl, a fox

connected

only by a stone wall

and a fear of the unknown.

 

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Zoe Mason, age 13

Nobleboro, Maine

Center for Teaching and Learning

Teacher: Nancie Atwell