The Wolf

You’re going to hear a wolf

And the wolf isn’t there

You’ll hear something growling

And you’ll bite your lip

And you’ll think there’s a wolf

But the wolf isn’t there

You’ll feel salt on your tongue

And chips in your teeth

Your lip will bleed

But there is no wolf

And there’s never a wolf

And there won’t be a wolf

And the wolf isn’t there

You’re all alone

But you don’t feel alone

Alone would be great

But you’d have to sit there

And wait

For whatever’s going

To show up next

A twig snapping in half

A branch dropping from a tree

And what made it fall?

And where did it drop?

Was that the sound
You heard off to the right?

Could you stay here, you think?
Could you be here all night?

There’s a wolf in the woods

And it’s looking for you

But will it find you?
Can it find you?

Be brave in the woods

And the wolf won’t exist

Tell yourself there are no woods

And it’s just you
And the sound
Of your breath on your lips

The image of a sunrise

Goes well with the blood

Spotting the whipped white snow

Between the prints

Made by four

Perfect

Paws

Have you made it?

Have you made it

Past the deep dark fur

And the bone dry fangs

Looking for something

To pierce?

Or is there no wolf?

Is the wolf

Not

There?

A howl grabs your eyes

A growl turns your chin

You take a step

You retreat

You stop

The cold reminds you

You’re alive

And that reminds you

That you

Have something

To lose

Something

That can be

Taken

You look through the trees

You blow hot air on your hands

You disappear, you think

But then you’re there

And there’s the wolf

Or is it really the wolf?

Maybe it’s not
Maybe you’re not really here

Maybe the forest

Is just paper

And grass

And snow is a notion

And nothing to mind

You’re a thought

Or a feeling

That finds itself

Locked in

On the idea

Of a blood-thirsty

Something

That stalks

And steals
And stops things
In their tracks

And that might be a wolf

Or it might just be…

You’re going to hear a wolf

Close your eyes

Hold your breath

Whistle out a prayer

And wander--

Wander

Wander

Wander

Wonder where it is

And if it’s eaten

Recently

The wolf can see you

But only if it’s there

If it’s there

Then stop

And wait

No point

In being brave

But if it’s not--

What then?

What then

Will you do

Where will

You wander to?

This is not a children’s story

This is not for the telling
Or the tellers

Or the wolf

Because there might not be a wolf

And if there is--

You’ll know