The Fox Maiden's Tale of Russet

This is the first attempt I made at writing a Haibun.

A fox stares at the house.  It is full of humans, one in particular, a man.  Her Grandfather watches her and sees the signs.  That night he takes her to a hill under stars, tells her the way to her heart's desire.  Later, an older gentleman and a young woman in a russet kimono walk into the garden; stand beneath a pine bough.  The man on the veranda stares entranced, walks to them and into the night.  Their home is gracious, they are left alone.  They have a son not long after.  A delight, eight years pass he thinks.  He is found dirty and emaciated in a fox den.  The fox-wife has a servant speed her son away, hides in the woods until she can go back.  Grandfather dead in a scarlet pool.  The man recovers, sits on his veranda and stares at his garden, his ink dry and the paper empty.  Is there a flash of a russet kimono or a vixen's tail?  This is the story I heard.

 

fox maiden

painted into a picture screen 

kouku season returns
 

 

 

Author's Note

I wrote a story I wanted to hear, and rather missed the idea of what a Haibun is supposed to be, but am still pleased with the results, over-all.