According to Japanese legend, foxes only wed on a day when the sun shines while it’s raining.
From a Wikipedia article
The wild fox
From a Wikipedia article
The wild fox
fussed, combing her russet hair
with a broken root
and looked at herself in the lake.
She thought
what a beautiful bride
she would make – and threw
away her grooming tool,
a remnant
of the green willow. Crickets
had promised
they would arrange
for rain the next day
mixed with sun.
And so she invited
a village girl
to dine with her
in the forest den.
A young artist
known for her skill
and idyllic sketch,
who had disclosed
that art was her soul,
the rush in her blood,
her breath.
The sly fox did not say
it would be
her wedding day
when humans
were forbidden
to view such blessed feasts.
And if such
an offense
should occur,
the animals became
furious, demanding
the offender give
his or her life
for absolution.
For the sacred
song and cloth
that would cleanse
their family of disgrace.
The cool fox
longed to absorb
the girl’s spirit
and taste the spill
of virgin blood
as the penitent
pierced her heart
with a silver knife.
Then she would become
this red-haired
huntress from the wood
who dipped
the marsh reed
into ink
and drew
magic scenes
on rice paper.
Who left her husband
curled in sleep
and slipped into lines
of sky and water
grass and trees
wings and fins
palms and heels.
Everything the mind
could map and conjure.
The vain fox
looked again
at herself in the lake
and saw a vision
of tomorrow.
There was no rain
but a few clouds
and the blackness
of a veiled shadow
she feared. The dark fate
had come for her
not the girl
at the work bench
with her slim stick
and white bowl
shining pale
as the sun
caught in a seine of showers.
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Notes -- Kitsune in Japanese folklore is a fox spirit. The female is very clever, manipulative and sly, often with vixen like motives. Foxes always marry on days when sunshine is mixed with rain. This is very important to the secrecy and sacred nature of the nuptials. Invasion by a human presence is considered a grave insult, an offense.
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