
She-Wolf
Copyright © Isabella Dalzell 2020. All RIghts Reserved.
She-Wolf
She-Wolf by instinct alone
navigates traditional tracks
untrodden for two hundred
years. Ousted from her pack
fleeing the new Alphas after
the death of her own Alpha-Male.
She-Wolf treks four thousand miles
from the Italian Dolomites
across the mountainous terrains
of Austria and Switzerland
through foxgloved forests edged
with willowherb and gooseberry
spiked fern nestling strawberries
and the scatter of fir cones.
She-Wolf scrapes a den,
gives birth sheltered by a fallen log.
In the mountain hide pups are born
blind and deaf, littermates
weaned in isolation snuggling
soft chin upon spiny back.
She-Wolf is forced to leave them
hidden in the undergrowth
in her search for food
keeping far from humans
and the territories of others.
Helpless they wait, chin on
outstretched paws, ears cocked
in curiosity, sniffing the breeze.
She-Wolf scavenges, scratching
for grubs and reptiles, nibbles
berries and bitter grasses
finds an occasional snack
of carrion, a mouse or hare
brings them home for the pups.
Alone the pups are prey
for crouching wildcat hunting
to feed her own kittens and
white-faced Eagle floating high
amidst the thermals. But
tentative steps are taken.
Soon the pups are outward bound
playful, leaping.
She-Wolf journeys on
six pups trotting close behind
following the invisible trail
astonished by every leaf
and twig, every lizard, every beetle
every movement of the wind.
She-Wolf, from a mountain ridge
surveys an impasse, the trail
now smothered by concrete
in the valley far below.
Leads them cautiously
down the rubbled slopes,
through the night-time city
through twisting backstreets.
Takes them past all dangers
and across the glowing bridge
to ford the vast and turbulent
river passing through the valley
to re-join the mountain trail on the
other side whilst the humans sleep.
She-Wolf leads them to a new
home. Finally, they reach the
green-sloped sanctuary of
Mercantour, it’s bouldered
river penning them safe
its tributaries breaking free
from pipes and irrigating the
vegetal plots of the homesteaders.
She-Wolf sits alone
front paws outspread, triangular
astride karst limestone peak
shrouded by leafy oak and fir
raises her white throat to salute
the moon with baleful yowl.
She is heard.
A young male swims across the lake
into a tobacco-tinted dusk.