A friend told me he encountered a wolf, I once knew.
His story shocked me and was totally new.
But anyways, here it goes:
The snow lay thick, the trails unread,
My friend walked true and bold,
seeking warmth and in quiet happiness after offloading a young boar.
Through the frost where the forest swayed,
He heard a voice, thinly laid—
"Huntsman, what brings you here? Are you seeking trust, or seeking fear?"
Wolfy came to view, its grin was wide and keen,
eyes like embers, sharp and mean.
But something here felt twisted, wrong,
its stance too sly and a wait too long.
"Come sit, friend, in winter’s glow,
rest your boots where soft winds blow."
My friend sat, his hands on steel,
knowing tricks, knowing deals.
"They say you’ve changed, Wolfy, grown,
your hunger speaks where secrets moan."
My friend remained firm and still,
his gut was sharp, his fear was nil.
"Then chase the winds, chase the snow, but not my shadow where I go."
Wolfy grinned, his breath unread,
his silence cut the space like thread.
"Another time, another trail, run your road, but I may prevail."
My friend stepped back, his pulse controlled,
the night was cold, but colder the hold.
Wolfy watched, his hunger thin,
his eyes still sharp, but lost within.
The wind carried, the snow lay still,
no chase tonight, no blood, no thrill.
Only footsteps fading slow
one moving forward, one left with the snow.
Poet of the Winter · page 53 · Hear it on the channel ↗
Commentary
This poem expands the narrative of The Wolf and the Huntsman, shifting perspective to a friend of the huntsman, who encounters the enigmatic Wolfy. With layered tension, winter symbolism, and rhythmic storytelling, the piece explores themes of change, loyalty, and the silent threats that lurk beneath familiar interactions.
The poem begins with the narrator introducing his friend’s encounter with Wolfy, a wolf once known to him. As the friend treks through thick snow and unread trails, he enjoys a moment of peace after a successful hunt, believing the evening holds nothing but warmth. However, as he wanders through the frost-covered landscape, a voice emerges from the quiet—"Are you seeking trust or seeking fear?". This question immediately unsettles the hunter, setting the tone for uncertainty. The wolf steps into view, its wide grin and ember- like eyes glowing with intelligence but carrying an unsettling edge. Something has changed in Wolfy—its stance too sly, its wait too long.
Despite the eerie encounter, Wolfy invites the huntsman’s friend to rest, offering hospitality in the cold. But the hunter knows the game; his instincts sharpen, and his hands remain near steel, prepared for tricks. He questions Wolfy’s transformation, hinting at a shift in hunger—perhaps not just for food, but for something deeper.
As the moment intensifies, the friend stands firm, unmoved by fear. He warns Wolfy to chase the winds and snow, but never his shadow—a declaration of caution, perhaps even dominance. Wolfy responds with a cryptic grin, suggesting their paths will cross again.