Wolf Dawn

A sad tale of a banished wolf that is also an allegory for the human condition.

The Wolf Dawn is what they call it,

That grey hour before true dawn,

When the wolf emerges from the wolf pit,

Before the day is even born.

The lone wolf ghosts through the deathly light,

Weaving his way through trees and heather,

Driven by hunger, cold and damp from the night,

He must hunt in any weather.

Scenting for prey, searching the shadows,

Small, medium or large, any warm-blood will do,

Even fish, if trapped in the shallows,

Perhaps frogs, the odd snake, or maybe a shrew?

A flash of movement, a rustle, a nice tasty rabbit,

Fleeing in fear, a race for its life,

It loses, a scuffle, strong jaws and paws grab it,

It satisfies that hunger which cuts like a knife.

An eerie howl splits the grey silence,

As the spectral grey killer finishes his feast,

The consummation of dire violence,

To a small and harmless beast.

The lone wolf lifts his muzzle to the dimly lit sky,

And with quavering heart, ears back and head tossed,

Gives bold answer to that most plaintiff cry,

Calling ravening anguish for all that is lost.

Banished by the pack for growing old,

For losing his strength then losing a fight,

Driven out by his friends to the cold,

Away from their warmth, alone in the night.

He can never return,

He can never go home,

The pain will ever burn,

He must forever roam.

Until at last, in that cold grey dawn,

He does not rise from the pit,

He never sees the bright new morn,

He passes to the Great Unlit.

© 2021 The Iron Horseman

Author's Note

My apologies for my lonh absence, guys. It was due to relocation, the pandemic and beginning my new book. But I am back now and hope to hear from all my friends soon!

Reviews

[mattavelli]

Hello, Ironhorseman! :)
I enjoyed this poem. Its a sad story for this wolf and the rabbit. I think what I enjoyed most was the way you set the scene. Something that nagged at me was your use of "cuts like a knife"; which fits with the rhyme, but is unoriginal and has been used to death. Thanks for sharing.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks Mattavelli. Lol! I admit it, I did it for the rhyme. Guilty as charged.

[Poetic Beauty]

I love this story of the lone wolf. Wolves are fascinating and this story woven is amazing and makes you feel sorry for the shunned wolf

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, PB. I'm glad you liked it. It made my wife sniffle! I love wolves, find them fascinating.

[Poetic Beauty]

Wolves are amazing creatures for sure