Red and silver

Autumn breeze smells like smoke and rust Leaves turn to knives with every gust I walk these woods like I own the page Silver in my coat, frost in my age Then I catch it — musk and spite Flash of red between the light Fox on the ridge, tail like a flame Thinks he’s clever, don’t know my name We both want the rabbit in the brush But there’s only room for one in the hush He’s quick, I’m old He’s fire, I’m cold He darts, I wait This is the weight Of winter coming Red and silver in the autumn air Dancing circles, neither wants to share He’s all flash and feint, I’m all bone and stare Two hunters, one prayer In the autumn air, in the autumn air Only one leaves with the hare Red and silver, fighting fair Under copper skies, a tooth and claw affair He yips insults, darts through thorn Says "old man, you’re tired, you’re worn" I don’t answer, I just breathe Let the forest do its talking through the leaves He’s got speed, I’ve got scars He knows tricks, I know wars He goes for my throat, all pride and sin I let him close... then I grin ‘Cause foxes forget what wolves forgive We don’t. Not if we want to live This ain’t hate. This is math. This is the oldest kind of path. Summer’s green is dead and gone Winter needs what we pass on So we fight not to be cruel But ‘cause the cold don’t play by rules Now... Red and silver in the autumn air One last lunge, and neither pair Of eyes will blink, of hearts will spare Two hunters, one prayer In the autumn air, in the autumn air Leaves go quiet, branches bare Red limps off, silver stands there Under copper skies, with the hare And the bite of coming winter Autumn breeze... Tastes like iron now_