The Wounded Wolf
Pierced by their arrows
For five harrowing years
The wolf tries to survive
Carrying the worst wounds
It has endured in his life
Wounds of loneliness
Wounds of betrayal
Wounds of desperation
Of hopelessness
Deprived of love
Deprived of touch
Battered on the job
While his mate
Succored her lover
Justifying herself
Because her mate was so bad
The wolf licks his wounds
Waits for his mate
And thanks to Buddhist guilt
And inconvenience
She claims she is finally
Weaned off her lover
And returns after all these years
The wounded wolf
Wary, suspicious
Snaps at her
Snarls at his rival
The top dog to whom
She gave herself
Howls at the pain
Unsure of the now
And about the future
Whom is she in synch with
The old wolf or his rival?
She says she loves him
Can the woman who vowed
To be by your side
But didn’t
Now love you
But still be in love with the her lover
Is her love true
For you or for him?
After all she declared
She gave him her true love
Then how would you describe
The love she offers you?
The wolf is wary
The wolf is in pain
The wolf is confused
He wants to fight
He wants to flee
He wants to lie down — and die
But gets up and keeps going
But how long can he,
The poor, aging,
Wounded lone wolf?
