KODIAK

 

I.

Drink deeply
of the peace of the forest,
Brother Wolf.
Walk softly
so man cannot find you.

Hide when you hear
him coming.

Forest guardians have told me
you and Brother Bear
are starving
for lack of salmon,
because we have not
listened to the earth
about the balance she needs
to be well.

Drink deeply
in these moments
when your life is
as it should be.
None of us know
when our last drink,
our last peace,
our last moment

has come.

- for the creatures of the wild

II.

He is white
with spooky light blue eyes
and big, wolfy ears.

He loves me.
He stands on his hind legs
peering in my window 

to find me.
When our eyes meet
he cavorts giddily,
like a silly boi,

insisting I come out
to pat his wolfy ears
and give him treats.

He is alert
to every movement
in our vicinity.
He is wildness,
contained,
restrained,
but with a large spirit
that longs to
run free through the forest
or along the sandy shore.
He would,
if he were mine,
but he belongs to another,
who will soon move away.

One more white wolf
to invade my heart
then disappear.
But, for now,
the joy of loving him
is enough.

- for Kodiak

for The Sunday Muse