Change Poem by Tim Shao

In the moonlit darkness
of the crackling forest
the pitter patter of paws
can be heard,
tongues dangling, panting,
yearning
for a meal,
for something to eat.
Their tainted white fur
illuminated by the moon
forms a meandering stream of water yet
without a source or mouth.

But one remains in the den.
Sitting there, left out,
his distinctly darker fur is camouflaged,
enveloped in the murky gloom
of the woods, severed from the rest.

The grey wolves return, defeated.
Their piercing yellow eyes turn
towards their own leader
but he turns his back,
scorned and breathless.
Scared, their ears flatten
against their head, whimpering.
So fierce and rough at times of
joy, yet they are cowards
in the face of adversity.

A shrill howl ruptures the slumbering silence.
One by one they pick themselves up
and walk towards the origin of the noise.
The aroma of flesh drifts through
their nostrils, and instinct compels them
to speed up. To their amazement,
they see the black pelt of the wolf who
stands over the carcass of a fallen deer,
conquered. They all look up to the unlikely hero
standing tall and proud
and come to acknowledge their new ruler,
the alpha male to lead them
from the confusion as they realise that
their time for change
has come.