source: Wolf Howling
Along a forest trail,
we met,
wolf and old woman.
Our eyes locked.
He took a step back,
assessing.
"Don't worry," I said.
"I love you.
I won't hurt you."
I backed slowly,
turned away,
retreated from
his habitat.
At a bend in the trail,
I looked back.
He was still watching me.
His eyes were sad,
for all the embattled wolves
and humans
of the world,
for the friendship
there could be,
among the species,
not possible
until humankind
awakens.
I walked a forest trail this morning, and these lines popped into my head. A friend once met a young cougar on the trail. It meowed at her. True story.
Sounds like one of my husband's dreams. He comes across wild animals all the time. I'm even afraid of many dogs.
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely, Sherry. Dream like.
ReplyDeleteIf we live in harmony with nature, all will be well.
ReplyDeleteWish we could all live in peace and brotherhood with the other species!
ReplyDeleteI'm even afraid of many dogs.
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This breaks my heart really. We all could be living in much more harmony than we are. If only we did not think of 'the other' as our enemy.
ReplyDeleteIt's a little sad, yes, the necessary mutual wariness. But I do love the respect your old woman shows, and the acknowledgment that this is HIS habitat.
ReplyDeleteI have never met a wolf but I know that I would back gently too. I think we should have clear borders between our habitats,
ReplyDeleteIndeed there could be friendship if we treated nature and animals with respect Good one
ReplyDeleteI wish I had the chance for such encounters where I live. I guess there are some disadvantages to Island life. A lovely poem Sherry.
ReplyDeleteOh this is so beautiful Sherry!💕 I love how you describe the moment here and end with 'until humankind
ReplyDeleteawakens.' Let us hope it happens soon💕
Yes. And the only way that's possible is if we human domesticate our fearful need to master the wolf.
ReplyDeleteIt is their habitat and how easily we believe we have the right to encroach. Lovely reminder Sherry.
ReplyDeleteI love the dreamlike quality of your words Sherry.
ReplyDeleteOh, if only it could be so that we respected the rights of other species, their place given by nature itself - but we don't and probably (almost certainly?) wont.
Anna :o]
Another walk on the "wild side" mystic, magical, ... as always beautiful.
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ReplyDeleteThis is a sad tale....
ReplyDeleteI think my heart just broke a little. Okay, it broke a lot... I so hope we can wake up, and soon.
ReplyDeletethis was powerful, especially when you locked eyes with the wolf and the wolf had sadness in his eyes. love the poem, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful verse and story. Happy Sunday Sherry
ReplyDeleteMuch love...
You speak so eloquently for the wild things, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful, touching poem.
ReplyDeleteMagical as always ! Love!
ReplyDeleteI wish humankind could awaken! Sad and thought provoking at the same time
ReplyDeleteA lovely encounter, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteSadly, humans seem disinclined to make much of an attempt to live in harmony with each other - something that animals are much better at.
ReplyDeleteAn awesome poem, though.
I know from personal experience that such human/wild life connections are real - and I suspect, more common than we, perhaps, realize.
Your love of the wilderness shines through.
ReplyDeletefor the friendship there could be,
ReplyDeleteamong the species, not possible
until humankind awakens
How very true, Sherry! Humankind who can think should be the one to trigger it off. It is a pity humans should stumble even without starting!
Hank
Friendships between species? Even humans have trouble being friends with each other, especially when idiots lead certain countries!
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