Leftfield Questions

How is a fox like a toaster?

What mundane task would a living fox do in a home?

How would a toaster be rewilded?

Night warden

Where the kitchen stove glows
still warm, cats dream,
and mice dance with stray crumbs,
nudge loose-fitting lids,
chew holes in the mesh
of the food safe.

Padding soft, almost silent,
the fox in the attic descends
the cold stairs, grey-ghost,
in search of fat mice,

where cats stretch in sleep,
in the stove-glow,
their dreams full of tiny squeals.

-Jane Dougherty

I found a fox in the crumb tray of my toaster once.
My friend found kippers in a bank deposit drawer.
One of these is true.
Life, stranger than fiction. Poetry, stranger than both.

Ivor Daniel

Proud and red
the toaster
on his forages
stands aloof,
looking down
on cold plates

He accepts another
outstretched slice
of bread, takes care
to avoid a stand off
with a knife or fork,
then warms to his task

before he merges,
ears flattened,
unseen, by a den
of cupboards,
on the look out
for supper.

-Val Bowen

As humans yawn inside the house
The toaster lurks behind the shed
When all is dark it hunts for crumbs
And pounces on a slice of bread

The bagels roll in frantic haste
Baguettes pretend to be a post
For each one knows that if it’s caught
All hope is gone and they’ll be toast

-Jennifer Thomas