Home with Wolves
– written at Nose Mountain Fire Lookout
I was a wolf once, on one September day of thousands.
Two wolves were waiting on the mountain road. I howled,
badly, inviting them to my lookout cabin like a wistful sister should.
Four of their relatives heard, jumped out of the bush and joined
the party like happy-go-lucky yahoos would. I watched enchanted
as the six wolves laughed and trotted on the icy road toward me,
cha-chung, cha-chung, cha-chaung –ha, ha, ha–
I ran inside for my camera to capture the lucky revelry.
Erratic, a dog in heat, I returned
to the road rippling with wolves,
but they knew first that my wolf-self was gone.
They leapt into the bush complaining, sniffing the ground,
while I am still panting –ha, ha, ha–pacing grey towns
and waiting for my urban wolfishness to be found.
~ Vivian Demuth
Vivian Demuth is the author of the poetry chapbook, Breathing Nose Mountain, and the
novel, Eyes of the Forest. Each summer, she hosts an annual Poetry on the Peaks event near an Alberta fire lookout where she works. Her poetry has been published in Canada, Europe, Mexico and the United States. Her website is: www.viviandemuth.wordpress.com.
“Homes are multiple geographies and communities that enrich our minds and hearts.â€
Read more of Vivian Demuth’s poetry:
– In the Middle of the Watershed
– Live Earth
– Faders
Editor’s note: This poem is from Home and Away – a sequel to the bestselling Writing the Land (2007). Look for one poet to be featured each day as Alberta poets ponder the question “what is home?†and explore our complex relationship with working on, living with, exploiting and protecting our land and our home. For more information about the project, click here.
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