A lone wolf howls
into the night.
Five wolves hear his cry
and venture across the dark ground.
Theirs is a concert of
alternating howls. A man
alone listens. He knows
this earth music. Always
he is attentive to it.
He is patient as their
howls crisscross distances.
Even in his sleep, he is awake,
counting the measures
of the animal noise,
turning it into the concerto
that makes all flesh on earth one spirit.
Very descriptive and atmospheric - the title is truly inspired.
Great description you can almost see the wolves with their heads raised howling and coming together to find strength in the pack.Beautifully written Daniel. Hopefully man will learn to appreciate all gods creatures and realize that animals only kill to eat unlike humans who kill for many other reasons.
Once more I felt as if I was experiencing your poetry. not so much as a painting in a museum but more toward being in a cabin and hearing the wolves' howls in the forest with the man, quietly listening against a dim, moon lit landscape. I loved it!
Wolves wild and free in their own habitat, this poem is hauntingly beautiful with the essence of the wolves with their unique howling that sounds so primitive bringing back the past of our forebears who blended into this landscape with all it's hardships! !
hi, daniel! i'm reading earlier postings of yours and read this one again. for another take on night sounds, you might check out my little poem, awake at 3 a.m. glen
I picked this poem because of its title, Daniel. I have many poems that speak to being attuned to the natural world- too many to try and think of or list. I'm convinced that to be separated from it lessens our health and sanity. For an opposite take on canine sound, do you know Billy Collins' poem with a title like Why I Don't Keep a Gun in the House? Glen
This poem just likes a film at begining and so vividly described and just like we are watching a short film now and it can be made into a short poetic drama i think. Sophy
I have always pictured wolves with the word 'wilderness'. Your poem has the wilderness in the ink with the stamp of a wolfs print. Superb write.
LONG life to wolves! Protect them! remember Buddhist wisdom! My favorite polititian has a father's name Wolf and likes to imitate their howling! you are a musician if you count measures of all nature noises!
A lovely contemplation of nature, the wolves are a special imagery for the human consciousness, because they are simultaneously a symbol of society and barbarism. Your use of the word concerto makes me want to ask you to read my poem, Concerto. Though it has little to do with this poem.