Old Grey Wolf and Half Moon Owl
Old grey wolf lay low in the cold with his nose in the snow so his breath wouldn’t show. He gazed at a mouse stealing seeds, winter needs, from the chipmunk’s pantry. The chipmunk wouldn’t mind; he was a knot of fur and bone marking the boundary of wolf’s territory, old wolf alone. “I’ll let him get to seven, then I’ll send him to heaven!” As mouse made trip after trip, belly fur began to drip and muscles twitch with the need for that burst of speed…Now!
Instead of fur, it was feathers and screeches when grey wolf reaches the spot where mouse should make a meal. An owl tucks and rolls and hops upon a rock and fluffs and bluffs with hisses and looks…
“If I’d known you were going to do the work, I’d of waited and eaten you both! Of course feathers gives me indigestion…”
“May I make a suggestion? You should be aware that I can fly by just one time and good bye to your eye and your sight, then your might as you slowly die in the dark with nothing to eat…and I wipe my claws.” And with a pause, owl tapped its talon on the boulder.
Wiser, and older, wolf whispers, “I believe you are right.”
Then both sighed and spoke, “But I’m so hungry!”
The sky’s orange and purple began to fade in earnest, sun sinking below the trees to obliquely glow. A cacophony of geese, a gaggle, settles en masse upon the beaver pond in the valley below. “Have you ever tasted goose?”
“Too many eyes, too many mouths, too wary, too scary for an old grey wolf to sneak up on. I always enjoyed the show, though, when they all flew away! And you?”
“All the same. Too big, too tough, too fast, I don’t last in a tail chase. I must say its been a waste to even try.”
What if…I gave the geese something to watch, something to talk about; say an old wolf dancing on the rise, put that sun in their eyes while you get behind in the white oak grove… Could you swoop low and treat a goose to that thing with the eyes, punch a hole in its head?”
“Make it dead, I can do, if you give it a view- maybe two! But what I can’t do is the swimming… Goose dinner with the trimmings! Now that will be a memory I won’t soon forget!”
There was no regret as the beast and the fowl shared a meal and a howl with their bellies content and the conversation went late into the night to the possibilities of easing the fight to find something to eat. They agreed to meet in the twilight time between the day and night and ease each other’s plight. Soon without fail they had plans for hunting quail, a technique that looked funny to capture a bunny. An owl could drive a deer with talon jabs in the rear past the crease in the ridge by the tangle of bramble where hid the waiting wolf… They got a bit too eager with a plan to hit the beaver and thought much better of it; “This plan, we need to shove it! No one would fix the leaks, and the pond would soon be creeks and where would we find ducks and geese?” So they realized that one can have friends with out any speaking or sharing of table as long as one is able to appreciate how we all need each other, and be grateful.
After nearly a year the wolf and the owl couldn’t imagine how they had lived without a true friend. They had time for talks, and just for fun walks, and they even shared their fears. And during the day, to keep raccoons and fishers away, the wolf patrolled the white oak grove where owl had its den. And at night, to ease his fright, the owl would wake the wolf whenever the mountain lion was near the cave he called home, so it never became his grave. They looked at the night sky and together wondered why the world was the way it was, if there was a plan or a purpose or someone who hid watching from the stars…
“We wolves tell the story that the Creator sang, and with a big bang the stars and the moon came into being, though not soon, a long time ago. The stars and moon sing back to the Creator ever since, being thankful for the lives and their ways. With bays and howls, the wolves join in with all their might when the moon is bright, for thanks for food, and family, and lives and ways. For all of our days we keep this custom. If you sit still enough and listen, you can hear heaven and earth sing…”
And the owl replied, “I wouldn’t have cried out in fear, (it was so terrible to hear!) had I known the words to your song…”
Author notes
http://shamansoulstudios.com/books/wolf-and-owl
This is a poetic epic written in internal rhyme based on the picture above.
A contest entry
- Options Contest by Simply Simple.
1000 points, ended June 7, 2008, 83 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Native Americans by upperworld06.
330 points, ended September 6, 2008, 22 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Want to be READ? ENTER HERE! by Avatar of Innocence.
525 points, ended September 7, 2008, 131 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Stories in Verse by Samyuktha P.C..
1000 points, ended September 13, 17 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 37 of 37
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I know I commented on this already, but I saw it again, and just had to say, it really holds up well over time and re-reading! I love this little morality play, and would love to see it acted out, or perhaps animated -- or a picture book? So very well done.
Lita
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What a marvelous story, Moon. I so enjoyed it.
Love,
CM
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Here's what I am looking for
This was completely apt for the contest. This is such a lovely write, which I can see performed, with a lot of fun. Best of luck.
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This is so beautiful, such a lovely story in verse, yet reads and sounds like true conversation. I would think it could be acted out very well by a storyteller. I love the spirit of cooperation this tale encourages. Thank you for pointing it out to me. I enjoyed it very much! Lita
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interesting story...sounds a bit close to home with the wolves descending on my father at work to take his job from him, though
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Wow, this is wonderful!! I really enjoyed it tremendously! Thanks for entering my contest. I'm honored to have you show your work here!
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What an absolutely delightful story!
I smiled and giggled the whole way through
and then suddenly cried (not sure why)
This is the most wonderful story I have read in a very long time. My wish would be that everyone could find one good friend to share their days with.
ty for sending me this
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I loved this story !
did you invent it ? if so, you are a great storyteller !!!
I was holding my breath till the end, and it's a truly magnificent lesson of wisdom for all of us ...
I have both owl- and greywolf-totem, amongst others ...
I agree with you : they'll better get along !
maa
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This is amazing! for english this year i have to write a native folklor, this reminded me of some that i read, except for the rhyme. great job and good luck!
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Exquiste
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story with me. I have heard it before but not with the ryhming words inside. Beautifully done and quite moving. Can't say enough..
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I am curious what you heard before, as this is completely original with me! Is there a tale similar to this?
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There is a story related in the Choctaw traditions that speak of the Wolf and the Owl, in a similiar but not quite the same, (story)..you related it very well and it sounded a lot better than the one I had heard before..There was more description in yours..loved it quite well. *smile*
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Cyprus thought this was a tremendous write. Well done and Good luck in the contest.
And the owl replied, “I wouldn’t have cried out in fear, (it was so terrible to hear!) had I known the words to your song…”
Taking time to listen and learn the words of anothers song. excellent.
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Wiser, and older, wolf whispers, “I believe you are right.”
Then both sighed and spoke, “But I’m so hungry!”
And at night, to ease his fright, the owl would wake the wolf whenever the mountain lion was near the cave he called home, so it never became his grave.
Wonderful!!!
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How amazing a write this is!
BRAVO! I love to read you!
This should be published, too ...
Thank you for leading me here.
Love
Myra
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I think how come you did not get the gold? This is esquiste I want to keep it like I do the other things you write that touch my heart. This is polished also and professional I can not imagine why it did not win hands down. oh my the contest holder was so young that is why . I loved this so much. The picture you wrote about is lovely too.
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This is a charming tale with an important message. Illustrated, this would be a great children's book.
The text with periodic internal rhyme is interesting.
Though well-executed and engaging, this piece did not effectively address the prompt.
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You deserved more than an HM - this was just wonderful. I love the "old" type stories. Wisdom, wit and displaying animals as our companions - love it!
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What an entertaining story. Sounds like the makings of a Disney cartoon screenplay. Great job. I hope it wins the gold.
Mark
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this is a shaman's tail with the understanding of the energetic flow beneath the players on the stage. The story about the beaver, oh, so much a part of this. Mysticism has many forms and looks at the what is manifest as only the total of a multitude of small parts. There is a dance in this tale and it is rich with the power of love and understanding. Well said.]
Peace & Light,
Tom B.
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A very engaging story I have to say. I wasn't clear about the author notes...Is this/was this a collaboration? The info. at the top reads, "30 lines"...this is way more 30 lines (lol). In any case, it was a humorous adventure. I like the storytelling angle here. A lot of wisdom in it (subtle and not-so-subtle). Very clever...Great job with this write...
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The comments were the requirements of judges to prove I read the rules. No collaboration.
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This is ... I'm speechless. I loooove this - on so many dif levels, I don't know where to start. I love the story itself - keeps the reader engaged. And I love the language, it trips off the tongue as you read it. I read it alloud. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say - Great Read! - NANGALEEMA
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This is what Dr. Suess should have been!
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nice... what a lovely poem. very long and story like... Thanks for entering and good luck in the contest.
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Excellent
Just the kind of story that would have been told to children by their grandfathers to ease the cold of winters in times long ago. Very much like an American Native classic but one which I have never read before. Well done my friend. This is a classic all on its own.
Jim
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"They agreed to meet in the twilight time between the day and night and ease each other’s plight." Working together, each compensating for what the other lacks. I liked their deepening relationship and wondering. The moon and stars singing back to the Creator, joined in with the grateful howling wolf is a beautiful image. Yes, the two are in touch with themselves, each other and the way of the world. This was very well done.
Marlene
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This is a most magnificient epic....how beautiful the language, how true the lessons. Stunning and an important read. I lvoe the weaving of the story...I lvoe the characterization.... Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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WONDERFUL THE INTERNAL RHYNM IS SO WELLDONE AND THIS FOR ME IS A MASTERPIECE
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This is a piece of perfection! If ever there were a piece of perfect flow and feel this would be one to contend with it. Your words do justice to this piece in a grand fashion. Thank you for sharing your words with me and best wishes to in all of your endeavors. Keep that quill dipped in ink and ever ready for use dear poet.
♥ Touchof1der -
very nice
so good to see something fresh and new written about on here so much misery and poems about angst this ones so much better
jamie -
very imaginitive
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Great story! The rhyming you incorporated was incredible. I loved hearing the tale of the wolf and the owl. And it is true, everyone needs friends; not just to help each other survive the cold and dark places of the world; but also to keep each other company, and make each other laugh, and think. You really did a great job!
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This is glorious. An alleghory which tells a marvellous tale on several levels. Very impressive indeed!
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Amazing. By far one of the better entries that I've gotten. Thank you. However, the picture wouldn't open. Which is fine. This didn't need it really. Perfectly penned my friend. Thanks and best of luck.
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Odd, it opens right up for me! Please try to see it; I think you will be amazed...
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Ack! I'm going to try the other computer later. Maybe it will work. Sometimes my laptop is tempermental.
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