A wolf and his mate, with two new cubs,
Built a new den, ‘neath the bushes and shrubs.
While the young cubs nursed, the wolf sought prey.
With no hunt’s luck, the snow fell black that day.
Through the full Frost Moon and the Long Nights Moon
The wolf sought meat from night to noon.
He could hardly hunt, and his small cubs cried;
So he turned scavenger, despite his pride.
He gleaned the scraps of others’ meals,
And human trappers’ game he’d steal.
Eating rats kept starvation at bay.
He hunted, though the snow fell black that day.
Come Hunger Moon he tried new game,
To humans’ fields the starved wolf came.
He crept through the byre, a tender lamb he took,
But its bleats called the shepherd, with sling and crook.
His mate needed meat, for her milk had dried,
He tore Shepherd’s throat; in the snow he died.
The wolf fled as fast as he could get away,
Carrying the lamb, and the snow fell black that day.
The shepherds’ sons were many and strong;
They chased the wolf the whole night long.
They were well fed, he too weak to get away,
They hauled him to the town, and the snow fell black that day.
The shepherds’ sons all the town did wake,
And in the square tied the wolf to a stake.
He couldn’t break the ropes, struggle as he may.
They lit the fire, and the snow fell black that day.
From afar, his death howls reached his mate.
She howled back to him, fearing his fate.
Cubs in her arms, little did they weigh,
She sought her mate, and the snow fell black that day.
Dead cubs in her arms, she saw the fire.
Snarling at the folk, she walked into the pyre.
In a last embrace, her eyes wild and fey,
She burned with her mate, and the snow fell black that day.
The bonfire raged; its flames licked the sky.
Sparks flew to the thatch of buildings nearby.
The wildfire spread; the town in ruins lay,
Lost in swirling ash, for the snow fell black that day.
