WILD WOLF WOMAN

Wings for Wild Woman

by Ellen Wilson of Ella's Edge

Wild Woman carries the heart of a wolf

in her chest.

Its rhythm pulses in time with her wild sister,

who runs, wraith-like, through the forest, 

stopping under a midnight moon

only long enough to tip back her head 

and howl.

Her true being only comes alive

within sight and smell of the sea:

the hackles rise along her spine,

as she raises her nose to scent the wind,

determining her direction by the keening call

of the wild.

Wild Woman belongs to each of us, 

and to us all.

She lives in the space between heartbeats,

and in the thoughts between words.

Listen for her knowing voice

at your right ear, whispering:

"Come, this is the way."

Then follow, with perfect trust,

for no one knows better or truer

than the Wild Woman Watcher within.

Wild Woman moves through worlds 

seen and unseen,

emerging at daybreak to slake her thirst

at the River of Solitude.

At close of day, the forest rolls out

a soft mossy carpet for her bed.

In between, you may follow her

when she is Wilding, but not too close.

Be respectful of her space and of her growl.

And when she shape-shifts out of sight,

look down quickly.

You may just see the pawprints

she has left behind.

Wild Woman is the one we run from 

when we are young,

and run home to when we are old.

She is an ancient singing through our bones, 

a wise smile,

the knowing eyes of 

a Watcher in the Woods.

If you are quick enough, you might just spy 

the furry tip of her tail peeking out 

from under her billowing robe,

and trailing behind like moondust.

Follow her, embrace her, for without Wild Woman,

our spirits shrivel up and begin to die.

With her, our vision expands, and we learn,

finally and unfathomably,

to fly.

From 2012, my friends. It felt right to share this with the Poetry Pantry at Poets United this weekend, since Wild Woman has come alive again, on the wild shores of Clayoquot Sound. Returning to my heart's home is like getting back together with the lover you never stopped loving, and it is even better for the time apart.