I, Wolf

I, WOLF AaWooawWoooooooAaaaWooooooooAooooooooooOooOooooooo….. I, Wolf, stand alone on a knoll in a clearing by a stark, lonely tree; I swing my head side to side, slowly, looking everywhere, anywhere. My breath plumes from my mouth in wispy white clouds, rising, free; My paws plunge down in three inches of snow, but the cold I can bear. I’m hungry; the cold means nothing when you haven’t eaten for days; Though the wind slants little flakes of ice and snow against my face; Giving me the look of a graybeard, frozen flakes and saliva displays. But, I must keep the vigil, my empty stomach freezes me in place. There’s a hare there, I know, I can smell her, when the wind is right; She’s probably hungry too, and needs come out and search for food. I need her to take a chance, come out, for I am very hungry tonight; For I am lean, my bones show through; a rabbit would be very good. AaWooawWoooooooAaaaWooooooooAooooooooooOooOooooooo….. But wait, what’s that, is something stirring in the edge of the wood? I quiet my body and stand still, a wolf temporarily frozen in time; I  hold my breath, no more white plumes; to detect me is not good. For I see, this must be my hare, edging out of the forest sublime. The wind is in my favor, she cannot scent me, though I can her; She’s still too close to the woods, I must wait, I must wait longer. Too many hiding places in the forest, and she knows just where To go, and I can’t get in there; too big, even though I’m stronger. So I stand my place, and wait for my chance, for I might have a shot; A bush with berries in the middle of the clearing, go for it bunny! O precious joy! She’s making her way out, about me knowing not; She’s at the bush, time for action, for being hungry is just not funny! AaWooawWoooooooAaaaWooooooooAooooooooooOooOooooooo….. [atonceIsprintfromthetopofthehillthrowinguproostertailsoficeandsnow theharehearsmenowandbeginstodartbacktowardthewoodsbutIamfastermustmovefastershezigsandzagsbutIrunstraightonforIvehuntedrabbit beforeIknowIcantmoveasshemovesbutmustanticipatewhatsheisgoingto dosoIclosethedistancequicklyIhaveherinmysightsbutmustgetclosermy breathisraggednowthesnowisdeepbutImustgoonitmeansmylifeandhersaswellclosergettingcloserstillnotcloseenoughtheforestloomsinfrontwillIgetthereintimeImustforIAMHUNGRYIdriveharderthroughthesnowstill closingthegapcloseralittleclosermustnotmissfortomissmightmeandeath ItsherormeandIdratheritwasherclosercloserwearenearthewoodsmust movesoonandsuddenlyiiIIILLLEEEEEAAAAAAAAAPPPPPP! And, land squarely on my prey….. AaWooawWoooooooAaaaWooooooooAooooooooooOooOooooooo….. Quickly, my mouth finds her soft neck and I tighten my jaws; Hot, syrupy blood gushes down my throat, O bliss! She’s dead now, I start ripping away, holding her with my paws; First her belly, with its soft insides, nothing there to miss! And then the rest of her, muscles, tendons, even the head; Fur and bones, crunch everything, who knows when I’ll eat again! Now she’s gone, but the snow is red, so I lap it up instead; It’s not meat, but I need all I can get, my strength to regain! It’s over now, I’m finished, and for once I have a full tummy; Morning draws near, I think I’ll pad over to that warm boulder; And lay myself down to sleep, on the side where it will be sunny. I am refreshed now, my life goes on, I live to be one day older! And, I, Wolf, will be looking for you the next time I get hungry! AaWooawWoooooooAaaaWooooooooAooooooooooOooOooooooo….. Written July 5th, 2001 © on Jul 05 2001 11:39 AM PST, Brazos Mason   0 • 10