Saturday, December 6, 2014

Arctic Wolf, Winter's Moon






photo by Jeremy Weber

A blood-painted sky,
a huntscape
in white,

burn bright, burn bright.

Sickle and slice,
sickle and slice.

A blood-painted sky,
a huntscape
in white,

burn bright, burn bright.

Wolf, howl, find
your prey,
make ghosts tonight,
ghosts tonight.


© 2014 Jennifer Wagner


for my seven-year-old, who loves arctic wolves
and for Poets U


34 comments:

Tank said...

This sends a chill up my spine! Very cool poem...

Anonymous said...

I love this poem.

Mary said...

This is beautiful.....as is the wolf. This poem has an eeriness to it though, as I can hear the wolf's howl!

Nicholas said...

This takes me back to my Jack London days. How I would read my White Fang book in the middle of the night so comfortable on my bed.

Vandana Sharma said...

Lovely execution!

brudberg said...

This is like a shaman's shant - I hear drums and see the glowing ember in addition to the sky burning by the setting sun.

totomai said...

the repetitions seem like a chant, a call to the wolf on winter.

by the way, have you heard about the movie "Wolf Children"? It's a Japanese animated film... maybe your 7 year old will like it.

Old Egg said...

Enter a stranger's realm at your own risk. Tread carefully and take gifts for the residents. The poem had a lovely 'feel' to it.

Natašek said...

a beauty... i like the ending... make ghosts tonight..

Claudia said...

very cool rhyhthm in this one... love the repetition as well... makes it all the more intense

Donna said...

Love this as it echoes down a snow covered valley and howls with the wolves!

Donna@LivingFromHappiness

Abin Chakraborty said...

there is a haunting, fearsome quality to these lines which capture the predatory instincts of the wolf

humbird said...

Magical 'huntscape'...feeling the vast space for wild...enchanted words...I imagine, how your son loves this poem....

Gabriella said...

AsI write this morning, the sun is now up but when I got up the sky was 'blood-pained' so your poem resonates with me all the more.

Anonymous said...

excellent. very nice rhythm

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Yes, like a shaman's chant and I so love it!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful poem. The wolf is hunted and hunting.

Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said...

Jennifer--this is outstanding!

Susan said...

That must be a mature 7 year old! I love the merging of sound, hunger, death, ghosts and chorus.

Myrna R. said...

I hope your seven year old enjoys this as much as I do. I must be part wolf. I secretly howl at the moon.

Pat R said...

The ghost maker...the wolf.
Vivid, nice read.

janetld said...

This is like a chant, as others also have mentioned. Cool, vivid, powerful. Wolves are fascinating.

Fireblossom said...

I love them, too!

Wendy Bourke said...

I can smell the ice and snow and frost in the air . . . goosebumps. The piece goes right to one's core - a haunting incantation.

Namrata said...

Cool and vicious as prowling night.. Shhhhhh...be careful of where you want to step in..;)

TALON said...

I loved this...reminds me of a fairytale. Mystical and magical.

Brian Miller said...

cool echo there in the end..love the wolves too...
my aunt collects wolf paintings and other art so i usually
look for something this time of year...would be cool to see one
in real life...just not coming for me...smiles.

Justin Lamb said...

I really enjoy the simple scene and the repetition. It makes for a very vivid poem.

Locomente said...

Ouch! Scary!!!

Magyar said...

Nice photo and verse, as always! _m

adhi das said...

Beware of wolves but aren't they beautiful creatures!! nice post and picture! MERRY CHRISTMAS & A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR:))

grapeling said...

cool :) ~

Grace said...

Delightful Jennifer ~ I read this out loud and found it rich and imaginative ~

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