(For John and Tina Selley) br br Bushy tailed the red vixen in her trust br Returns each year br Giving birth and raising young. br br Cubs bright-eyed and boisterous br Full of fun playing on the lawn br Guarded by the wary vixen br As she looks at human friends br Watching from a kitchen window. br br She trusts the humans living here br Knowing in the back garden br Within her Den below the shed br Her young are safe from foxhounds br And she abides as valued family friend. br br She has no terror here of Man's cruelty br And when Summer ends br Goes away with young all safely raised. br br br Note: After returning for five years the vixen's cubs were poisoned by a neighbour. She has not returned since.