Sunday, January 17, 2016

COYOTES AT LAST MOUNTAIN LAKE


[from June 8, 2015, for Pup]


I heard the coyotes howling
as evening fell
at Last Mountain Lake,
and I thought of you,
my old wolf-pal,
and how you would tip 
your nose up to the moon
and howl mournfully
for all the wild places you loved
that we had lost.


Then you'd come to me and rest
your forehead against my knee,
wearily, for comfort.
We loved and lost so much together,
old pal of mine.
But, always, we had each other.


And now I am alone.
My nose tilted up
towards the moon,
an inner howl
expressed in secret tears.
Still missing our wild beaches.
And you.


posted for Poets United's Poetry Pantry, where they serve up wonderful poems to go with your Sunday morning coffee.


31 comments:

  1. Luv how that howlbresonates through out your poem in different frequencies

    Have a good Sunday

    Much love...

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  2. The close is very touching ~ Lovely share Sherry ~

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  3. What a beautiful poem, Sherry! Such warmth and love.

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  4. "Still missing our wild beaches.
    And you." Beautiful, Sherry. I do think that we associate beloved places we have known, with the beings that we shared them with - probably that makes the absence of both all the harder to bear.

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  5. Such a perfect poem – albeit heart-tuggingly sad.

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  6. That is so sad and touching. Beautifully written.

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  7. I continue to marvel at the connection between people and their animals. With so much cruelty in the world, it is heartening.

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  8. Such a beautiful longing in this poem!

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  9. my nose tilted towards the moon.. loved that. such a beautiful poem.

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  10. We grieve for the past and fear for the future and hold tight to memories to sustain us. Another beautiful poem Sherry.

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  11. You obviously miss your wolf dog a lot. Some love is irreplacable. I wrote a dog poem with you in mind.

    http://rallentanda.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/omelette.html

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  12. Oh..a heart tugging and beautiful poem -it is too easy to say he is still with you but it's not the same as the physical presence..and sense of belonging to another..hearing that howl..and sending a virtual hug - which will never measure up i know xo

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  13. very touched by this poem throughout and how you avoided the sickly side of sentiment - its the call of the wild, jungle book and lost longings all rolled together -

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  14. Oh this is so tender... That inner mournful howl, for both the friendship passed and the places lost.

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  15. a poignant and lovely poem and a great tribute to a faithful hound.

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  16. Sherry,

    I can feel those secret tears. You have captured that feeling of loneliness. Wishing you brighter days!

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  17. Oh Sherry such sadness and I can hear the mournful howls of loss especially in the last lines....

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  18. wonderful ending there. great ode to nature.

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  19. "for all the wild place you loved that we had lost." That line I find absolutely chilling and marvelous. You know me... I love lost time, and things gone. What a sweet, sad piece! Thanks for this Sherry.

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  20. Very vivid and understandably sad.
    ZQ

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  21. Heartwrenching! Beautifully expressed the loss and longing :)

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  22. This tugs at me Sherry!Sasha has had a hard winter--hanging in there for now--but I can feel the sense of losing her even now--so I will howl with you!

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  23. So vivid! I can see the tilt and hear the howl and recognize the years shared and gone. Wildness in particular, you learned with him. It's a loss with only traces to caress.

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  24. This is so good. You are a wonderful writer.

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  25. And now I am alone.
    My nose tilted up
    towards the moon,
    an inner howl

    It is a poignant moment when one is alone. One falls back on what had been as a consolation!

    Hank

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  26. When I hear coyotes howling, I am comforted. That's why I was so disturbed when I opened my Facebook page to find that my 10-year-old cousin is killing coyotes. He even posted a photo. How utterly disgusting and disheartening!

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  27. I feel your grief Sherry. I realized Pup's death anniversary was recent. I think for you he symbolizes all your losses. But, how wonderful that you got to know him, live with him and love him.

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  28. I like how the listening of coyote brought the memory of your gone friend.
    When we connected on such deep level - it will last forever...

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