Wolf

Lock the shutters and pull the blinds

And set up the alarm,

Chain the dogs up safe, and lock

The chickens in the barn,

The sun has sunk beneath the ridge

And the Moon is riding high,

And casting its cold evil beam

From a cold and evil sky.

The Wolf’s been seen in Basingdene,

Roamed through the Southern Vales,

It’s come into our county from

Its den, somewhere in Wales,

Bring up the sheep into the pen

And break my rifle out,

I’ll watch for it all night until

Its shadow leaves no doubt.

The night is long and lonely and

The air’s becoming chill,

I thought I saw a shadow move

Up over on the hill,

Its coat is black as deepest night

Its eyes a yellow glint,

With teeth so white and sharp, they gleam,

And give the slightest hint.

The hedge will keep the Wolf at bay

Up to the farmyard gate,

Then it might try to slip on through

And there will meet its fate.

It won’t be like the time before

When Alice screamed a note,

Caught walking in the pasture as

The Wolf tore at her throat.

The Moon is full, and round and white

And lights the farmyard gate,

I watch the black coat slinking in

And all I feel is hate.

It halts, to sniff the air, and howl

While I line up the sight,

And blast it through its yellow eye

On this revengeful night.

David Lewis Paget