Wolf Trap

 

In his dream
he walked in a wood
branches in his face
mud under his feet
He enjoyed the battle for survival.
He ate berries and leaves
slept next to water
and awoke to sunlight
filtering through trees
He gladly faced the enemies
in his night.

Each day he faced a new trail
he chose bramble bushes
over paths paved in concrete
He never gave up
never allowed the she wolves
to devour him

As a young wolf
he sauntered through the wood
looking for prey
howled through the night
scratching and serene
he was king of the forest.

He grew older
his pace slowed
and his saunter
turned to a steady gait
still pushing ever forward
to the next kill.

He was never alone
He stayed with the pack
but always apart
always free of entanglements
with the other wolves.

He growled at the enemy
The she wolves prowled
He was unaware of the discontent
growing within.

The she-wolves grew louder
more insistent
They bloodied him with their fangs
until
desperate for peace
he left the pack
and went alone
into the night.

As he grew older
he became content
with his life
ate what he killed
and slept when he liked
He was an old King
Alone with the peace of the jungle.

Then
one day
the Queen of the She-Wolves
approached him in a glade
She smiled at him
and nuzzled his face
with hers.

In an instant,
he surrendered to her charms
tired of the chase
and accepted the fate that awaited him.
He knew that only a Queen
could be his match
But, he wondered whether she would devour him

He sighed
as after a lifetime of struggle
he was happy to allow the possibility
though fearful of the result.

Once again
he sauntered through the wood.
He was a young wolf again
howling at the night
hunting for tomorrow

.