Wolf Sonnet

 

By Aljan

 

When I saw a wolf pack in the wild, I knew I wanted to study them

I followed in their shadow, studying them in every way

Though I believed myself unknown to them, I was erroneous

One night they came as I slept and began to learn from me

How do I know this?

Scat and footprints told me all I needed to know and their message was unmistakable

“Don’t hide in the dark like some scavenger waiting for leftovers.  Show yourself, we know you are here and there.”

I tracked them to the place they called home

I made camp close but not too close to their den

Soon the wolves came out to investigate

They did not come too close but close enough I could see the color of their irises

They seemed to talk amongst themselves, wondering what to make of me

Eventually, they left, accepting my presence

Days passed and so did a year

Pups came and grew

I learned more then I could have ever imagined from the wolves

Parent wise, they never abandon their progeny

If the parents died, others will take custody

It is my opinion that out of all the animals I’ve studied

The wolf is the best parent of all

 

Another year passed, and I began to realize something about the rift between Man and the Wolf

The people who hate wolves and even kill, shot, and trap them have one thing in common

They do not know that much about the wolf

I, myself, used to dislike the wolves

I used to believe the stories I heard of the wolf killings and cattle slaughters

But now that I’ve seen the wolf with my own eyes

I know their stories are false

Wolves, like us, live

They raise families and love another

Are they not like us?

Some people say the wolf deprive hunter’s of sport due to the fact they hunt deer

True, they do hunt deer, but they do not always go for the healthy bucks

They are the hunters who deprive the deep population of the sick, old, and dying

They ensure that the Deer race can live on without disease

In the West, stories are told of wolves attacking livestock

Who is to blame?

Those who killed off the wild buffalo

Buffalo once lived throughout the West, but now are long gone

Copyright RSD

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