The Wolves and the Elk
WARNING:
This poem contains some graphic descriptions
of wolves hunting and killing an elk.
Not for sensitive readers.
A hungry wolf pack sets out on a long hunt,
loping through the snow with the Alphas up in front.
Elk and deer are the pray that they seek,
especially those that are injured or weak.
Soon they spot a wounded bull elk wandering around,
looking for grass under the cold, snowy ground.
The elk sees the wolves coming but he doesn't run away,
Deep down he knows its his time has come, so he does stay.
The lead wolf stops short, panting for breath,
then he and the elk start the conversation of death.
The wolf asks with his eyes: "Is today the day you die?"
And the elk's eyes reply: "Yes! My soul yearns to fly!"
(This does not mean he will lie down quietly at their paws,
and submit himself peacefully to their hungry jaws!)
So wolf pack then attacks him from every side,
their fangs rip and tear at the elk's thick hide.
The elk runs, kicks and bucks and fights fiercely back,
jabbing at the wolves with his twelve-painted rack.
But his strength is fading and quickly draining away,
and he knows now for certain he will not see the next day.
Now a wolf has his fangs fixed deep in his shaggy neck,
and his life-blood begins to spill out without check.
Falling to his side, the old elk gasps his last breath,
as the wolves send his spirit quickly into death.
Then the pack gathers around to eat their fill,
soon other animals will come to feed on the kill.
This one death will give life to many more,
for that is what elk were created for.
Hunter and the hunted, this is Nature's rule,
but only man sees it as evil and cruel.
The wolves, of course, get all the blame,
for we have forgotten that we were once the same.
- Copyright by Sloane J. 2007
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