The wolves are losing their bite – Poem

The wolves are losing their bite

It’s their next try, the cry, sending howls ripping through the woods of your heart
You freeze, cracks booming across the frozen lakes of your eyes
Years of buffer built against the pain, the why
Tears threating, once again breaking through, pushing past the pain of letting rivers flow
Cries and howls triggering night frights of long ago
When wolves had teeth, and bites sunk deep, all in the name of love

Now, most teeth have long dropped out, as they wait, in autumn
For earth to take the final taste and swallow them whole
Their only play left, visitation rights, longing to sink teeth once more
Feel the power of control, make things “look right” in the site of the Lord

So, they play, holding visits at bay while howls sound again in your mind
Their delusioned vortex spins round
Traipsing her about so they can play good little girl and boy
Sucking in family, young and old, deceptive ploys on the road
Texas bound, pictures sound with crashing voice

Wait it out or fight for hugging rights, though the last fight was on unknown ground
Pounded by falsehoods, ambiguity, lies, the sting of old pack members prying eyes
Cutting of cords, slicing of lines, curled up on the shower floor
Self-denial on their part doesn’t understand, those cords don’t bind
Forced reconciliation, as visitation demands, can never be true
Diluted fantasies held when religion is bent for their own design

Will they ever understand, ever come around, I’ve long thought no
Their paths run deep, eyes have grown shut, hearts cold
Shrouded by self-justification and religious dope, a warped meaning of God’s love
That root runs deep, and aging wolves are not likely to embody their sheep cloaks
The wool pulled tightly over their eyes, false hope

Strength to you and your sister clan, though one precious soul remains in their grip
She too has fought, in her own way, to free herself from their claim
Physical outbreaks, voicing of pain or going within to talk to friends
I trust her day will come, you’ll be together, time will mend
A new way, without required attempts at uniting the (un)whole pack
Strength to you all, the trapped and the not
The wolves are losing their bite, the earth is starting its yawn

 

Stephen Kellogg – 2018