Howling With Wolves

Once upon a time
There was a pretty young girl
Whose wore a hood of deepest red
Like a rose petal, unfurled

Or like blood, that richest red
Bright against her ivory face
She was a rose blessed with snow
In a dark and dangerous place

She travelled alone through the woods
Protecting herself with a knife
Should any man or creature
Dare to threaten her life

She was bold, brave, beautiful
Watched over by angels it seems
For the only time she was afraid
Was in her untamed, wild dreams

She dreamt of wolves
And their gleaming eyes
How they manipulated
Took you by surprise

There were wolves in the woods
But they never came near
And so she carried on each day
And relinquished her fear

Then on one bright night
The moon turned darkness to day
The angels, tricked by this turnaround
Left her alone, to be prey

They didn't realise this of course
They thought she was safe in the sun
Little did they know that
The wolf hunt had begun

As the hunt drew ever closer
Our girl in the hood slept on
Unaware that she was in danger
Or that her protectors had gone

The breath on her exposed neck
Caused her to wake with a start
She instantly leapt up with a cry
How loud was the beat of her heart?

Trembling, but it didn't show
She wielded her knife with ease
Daring them all to take a step closer
She'd have them on their knees!

But they surrounded her completely
There was no way out
She knew that it was pointless to run
Or kick, or scream, or shout

But she had an idea,
An attempt at a plan
So she tipped her head back
As far as a girl can

She stood there in her hood
And she started to howl
Mournful like the wolves
Who had been on the prowl

Confused by this trick
The wolves joined in
With the haunting song
Of one of their kin

As swift as they came
They left through the night
Melting into the forest
With its dappled light

Victory tasted so sweet
To our girl in the hood
She had howled with the wolves
And been understood

And so she was safe again
Dressed in her blood red
No longer the prey
But a wolf instead

I.Sparrow