I Am A Wolf

I am a wolf
A beast, an evil enemy
Killer of children
Frightening, dangerous
Fear me
Tame me if you can, I’ll be your pet
This wolf, I am not.

I am a wolf
My long lanky legs spirit me away for endless miles
Wide webbed feet paddle against the current of the river
I rest, balanced atop sharp claws on the frozen tundra
My ears hear the snap of a twig and the breath of a field mouse
My eyes see into the pitch night what yours cannot.

I am a wolf
Humankind is not my prey
For you I fear
Elk, moose, deer, rabbits, rodents
Of these, the frail and infirm I track
My prey is not for the strong, but for the weak.

I am a wolf
I howl and my howl is my song
Listen closely
Hear it’s music and the innuendos of your own language
My howl is my song, my conversation.

I am a wolf
I have a family—a pack to which I belong
We hunt together
Eat together
Raise our pups together
The stronger, powerful ones are our leaders
They help protect this family that I love.

I am a wolf
My family and your family once were friends
We are alike, you and me
See my footprints in the soft mud
Hear the psalm of the lone wolf
We mean you no harm
This wolf, I am.

Inspired by Kingdom of the Wolves by Scott Barry