Wolf
From the forests north,
large, dark, a pack,
to spy on the first
humans. Already,
they could sense
the new predator,
and they sought to
know their place.
A predator indeed.
Where is its fur
for cold winter nights?
Where is its teeth
to chew the flesh of prey?
Where are its claws
or ears or eyes?
It stands on two legs;
can it even run?
A predator indeed.
They clashed, fought,
trying to find
dominance in the woods.
Then they avoided, their
packs too strong to
kill yet. But the
new beast was
patient and lived long.
They made offerings
to the wolves,
bribing them over years.
A young wolf crawls
into my lap, looking
for a scratch behind the ears.
A predator indeed.
From the forests north,
large, dark, a pack,
to spy on the first
humans. Already,
they could sense
the new predator,
and they sought to
know their place.
A predator indeed.
Where is its fur
for cold winter nights?
Where is its teeth
to chew the flesh of prey?
Where are its claws
or ears or eyes?
It stands on two legs;
can it even run?
A predator indeed.
They clashed, fought,
trying to find
dominance in the woods.
Then they avoided, their
packs too strong to
kill yet. But the
new beast was
patient and lived long.
They made offerings
to the wolves,
bribing them over years.
A young wolf crawls
into my lap, looking
for a scratch behind the ears.
A predator indeed.
7/20/17