once upon a time
the pages were clean and white
the lines were straight and margins clear
and our post-war scribes marched
single file through the village

one

line

at

a

time

then the end.
when the red wolf came
screaming into the world
blood fur dripping…

fear and loathing

fangs and claws ripping
pages to shreds
carving the day into our flesh

too many years
hidden away
howling in the distance
sending shivers

"I’m still here"

red wolf in the world
somewhere close – unseen
keeping the village on edge

can’t find him
can’t hurt him
can’t hunt him
can’t see him

red wolf fell on his own claws
and howls no more

the villagers miss the howl
the villagers miss the shiver

mourn the end
the rampage is over.