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Wild Wolves |
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My first ever encounter with a wolf was as a youngster
in the wilds of Utah. My father took us on a road trip. We visited the
Grand Canyon along with many other national parks. We had stopped at a
remote campsite where just a few other campers had parked for the night.
My brothers and I found some other kids to play with and we started a
game of kickball. One hard kick sent the ball over a low ridge and out
of site. Since I was closest, I was sent to retrieve it. I got to the top of the ridge and saw that it had rolled down the hill into some pines. I ran down the hill and quickly picked up the ball. When I stood up, There about 25 feet away, standing in profile with his turned in my direction, was a handsome black and silver wolf similar to the one in the picture on the left. He just stood there staring at me. Being quite young and knowing nothing about wolves I was very frightened and unsure of what to do. I was afraid to run thinking he would chase me. I know it was a silly thing to do but I tossed the ball at him in hopes it would scare him. It did and he silently disappeared into the brush. I got the ball and ran back to the campground to immediately tell everyone what I had seen. The adrenaline was pumping and I could barely get the words out. To my dismay no one believed me and teased me about mistaking some campers pet for a wolf. I knew that the animal I had seen was no pet dog. I went back to the top of the ridge in hopes of showing them I was right but he was nowhere in sight. Of course now I know the wolf would never had attacked me and was just as afraid as I was. I will never forget that special experience. The poem below is from the Book "Brother Wolf" I thought it was very well done and a good interpetation of the wolves point of view. |
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Since only the sun and moon made light, I have known you. I have watched you from the once vast, impenetrable forest. I was witness as you discovered fire and strange tools. From ridges, I watched you hunt, and envied your kills. I have eaten your scrapes. You have eaten mine. I have heard your songs and watched your dancing shadows around bright fires. In a time so distant that I can barely remember, some of us joined you to sit near the fires. We became part of your packs, joined in your hunts, protected your pups, helped you, feared you, loved you. We have existed together a long time. We were much alike. It is why the tame ones adopted you. Some of you, I know, respected me, like the wild one. I am a good hunter. I would see you hunt in a pack with the tame ones and catch meat. Then, there was always plenty. Then there were few of you. Then, the woods was big. We howled to the tame ones in the night. Some came back to hunt with us. Some we ate, for they had become very strange. It was this way for a long time. It was a good way. Sometimes, I stole from you, as you did from me. Do you remember when you were starving and the snow was deep, and you ate the meat we killed? It was a game. It was a debt. Some might call it a promise. Like the tame ones you have become very strange. Now I do not recognize the tame ones. Now I do not recognize some of you. We were once so much alike. You made the meat tame too. When I began to hunt your tame meat (they are foolish creatures and do not honor death) because the wild meat was gone, you hunted me. I do not understand. When your packs grew larger and you fought amongst yourselves, I saw. I watched your great battles and feasted on those you left behind. You hunted me more. I do not understand. They were meat. You killed them. We wild ones are now very few. You made the woods small. You have killed many of us. But I still hunt, and I feed our hidden pups. I always will. I wonder if the tame ones who live with you made a good choice. They have lost the spirit to live in the wild. They are many but they are strange. We are few. I still watch you too, so I can avoid you. I do not think I know you any longer. |
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