Arctic Beauty

The wily wolf deserves respect. Some children think it's cute... But most of us, I would suspect, Are somewhat more astute! The wolf is wild, no fast-formed friend, Untamed by modern man. It doesn't seek to comprehend What humans want to plan... The wolf is wary all the time, To every sound it hears. Its instincts are, of course, sublime, Whenever danger nears! The wolf survives cold Winter's spell... Determined day-by-day... To bide its time, then howl, 'Farewell! ' When Spring is here to stay! The wolf delights in Summer's heat With all that this entails - For then, its speed is hard to beat, In fact, it rarely fails. The wolf is known to howl at night, To serenade the moon... This wailing noise can cause us fright And some of us to swoon... The wolf won't change to suit Mankind... It's lived without his aid. A wilder creature's hard to find. The legends never fade. The wolf is callous to the core, Like any hunting beast. Each bloodied tooth, each bloodied claw Proves hunting hasn't ceased. The wily wolf has cubs to feed, The future to preserve... It doesn't kill for hate or greed... Just life upon this Earth... copyright, Denis Martindale. The poem is based on the magnificent painting by Stephen Gayford called 'Arctic Beauty'.