Playing Fair and Being Kind

A WOLF BARKS

The muzzle partly opens undecided,

That dark mouth wishing to utter

A pronouncement beyond self,

Three times it starts to voice

A thought – three times just a

Puff of throat and blinking eye,

Not sure, not sure what is needed at present –

Unsure, confused but alert to some faint meaning,

Uncertain.

 

That beautiful face – gray and full,

Coat of hard hair, fur, and down,

The chill night a protection from interruption,

But still the great head unable to bring up

The inner call.

Hesitant partly from self-doubt and from age,

Unclear the call is needed

Or if the call is his.

 

That slightly raised face,

Vapors curling from dark lips, ears

Back in posturing, silent message,

Eyes revealing slightly a confusion of need,

Intent, straining to reassess; the pack, the prey, the process

Of leading, presenting confidence, charisma, might,

Promise and protection ensuring continuance of the pack, progeny,

Mating and rearing, choosing omega, beta, staying alpha.

What to do now that life fades, bones ache and muscles tire.

 

This hero (older now!), perfectly crafted

For icy conditions,

Senses honed, ever alert, the model for

Tribes and clans to honor, worship,

For others to loathe, fear.

This marvelous head now with mouth held shut and with eye focused on the distant herd.

The final connecting piece is in place to form a clear and firm

Solution to survival, continuation, safety,

A final, decisive thought.

 

Again the head rises on thick neck

And powerful shoulders – the chest fills and expresses a definite

“yes”, a preliminary to the ancient one –

The head, while moving up in a quick arc to provide a straight path from the

Hollow earth to the empty heavens –

Announces and alerts with short bark –

Gives the call that excites and unites the tribe

To perform its errand in the chain of beings –

The wolf barks and then summons the others to duty.

 

G. M. Goodwin
1 January 2013