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A Death On The Tundra (...A Prose Poem)
Contributed by
Stoney1
on
Friday, 2nd July 2004 @ 11:23:57 AM in AEST
Topic:
NaturePoetry
|
The big grey thudded through the light, billowing, snow maintaining a visual distance from the herd, his mate and her brother trailed behind and slightly to the left, keeping about forty yards from the rear-most animals
The two pups had taken up position on the far side of the migrating cariboo, they were almost full-grown now and would soon leave to strike out on their own; this was the last season they would hunt with the pack
The wolves had been shadowing this large migration for several weeks, noting the lame and the infirm animals who would eventually become stragglers from the main body. It was three days since their bellies were full from their last kill and they needed to feed to-night before the cold and the pace sapped the last of their strength,
The pack had marked the faltering progress of an old bull, he'd received severe damage during the rutting season and had lost an eye, and sometimes he would veer off from the main herd in confusion, yet, he was still a formidible adversery
The alpha male had bided his time; he signalled his packmates to move in, the pack expertly cut the old warrior out from the rest
of the herd as the leader swiftly took up position on the old bull's blind side, the leader measured the distance and silently leaped toward the exposed throat of his prey,
The leap was true, but instinct and this veteran of many battles, sensed the danger and dropped his head to meet the unseen challenge,
The big grey was thrown over the bull's shoulder, and landed heavily; his jaw broken, the pack, sensing the attack had failed, dropped back allowing the old bull to re-join the herd for yet another day
Whimpering quietly, each pack member nuzzled their fallen leader and assessed his injury, the grey exposed his throat to his mate and watched steadfastly as she approached...
- Stoney 17 August '02
Copyright ©
Stoney1
... [
2004-07-02 11:23:57]
(Date/Time posted on
site)
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Re: A Death On The Tundra (...A Prose Poem)
(User Rating: 1 )
by C2C on
Friday, 2nd July 2004 @ 12:12:47 PM AEST
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| Wolves are wonderful critters. I like the mood of this poem, how it captures their nature. |
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Re: A Death On The Tundra (...A Prose Poem)
(User Rating: 1 )
by MoonlitMyst on
Saturday, 7th August 2004 @ 12:48:15 AM AEST
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| I could be watching this unfold before me, the descriptions are so vivid and precise. Very informed and intellectual write. I only worry about "grey's" fate as his mate approaches. Do wolves turn on eachother? I'd love to know more about this beautiful creature. |
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Re: A Death On The Tundra (...A Prose Poem)
(User Rating: 1 )
by Stoney1 on
Tuesday, 21st September 2004 @ 09:24:12 AM AEST
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Thank you both for your comments.
Consider "grey's" fate of a lingering death, unable to hunt or
feed with a broken jaw.
Then consider the need of the pack to feed before they lose
their hunting edge.
I don't know if wolves would devour their pack mate; I suspect
they wouldn't as family ties are strong within a wolf pack.
It's my human assessment of the situation which led me to a
logical conclusion. It just seemed to make sense.
But who knows?
Stoney
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