As nobody else seems to have put it up
Jim Carroll

MR FOX
By JOHN POLE

Outside Mr. Fox's garden
Three maids playing with a golden ball,
Jenny threw it up and Susan caught it
Mary bounced it over the wall.
The wall is high
Mr. Fox has a little red eye.

In she ran to fetch it back again.
The garden gate stood open wide
It was quickly closed and locked behind her.
Mr. fox was Just inside.
The wall is high.
His smile is cruel and his eyes are sly.

He said. I'll keep your ball. Miss Mary.
I shall have it and here you'll stay.
You'll keep my house and be my servant.
And never go out for a year and a day.
The wall is high
The long grass shivers and the tall trees sigh.

Spring and summer passed like shadows
She watched the green leaves fade and fall.
She walked alone in the empty garden
And Mr. Fox said — nothing at all.
The wall is high
Never a soul comes near nor by.

Three strange things he did forbid her.
Never you touch my iron box.
Never go near the thirteenth bedroom
Nor near the bed, said Mr. Fox.
The wall is high.
Don't you dare to ask me why.

Mary she rose up one morning
She saw an iron box on a shelf
But of all the rooms at Mr. Fox's
Bedrooms there were only twelve.
The wall is high,
Mary don't you peep or pry.

One day Mr. Fox went walking
In that box she found a key,
It fitted a door she'd never unfastened
And when she opened it, what did she see?
The wall is high
The door said STOP and the key said FLYl

In Mr. Fox's thirteenth bedroom
A naked sword hung on the wall
In a silver bowl on the bed's blade counterpane.
Mary saw her golden ball.
The wall is high,
The bed said COME and the sword said DIE!

In she ran to get her ball again
To snatch it off the great black bed.
Out crept Mr. and leapt at her
His teeth flashed white and his eyes burnt red.
The wall is high...........