The Wolf Years
By: Cheng Tong - Jan 16, 2022
The Wolf Years
Deep bonds are formed within their packs
Loyal, ever true.
Shown patience and enduring strength
They’ll bond themselves to you.
Front paws just like my hands
As large as large can be
And when he put them on my shoulders
Taller still than me.
Full mask and goggles on his face
As wolves can often wear
Black and white in handsome coat
And never showing fear.
He was young when we first met
A pup so lean and strong.
Unsure of me and all I did
Every move I made wrong.
For weeks we tangled long and hard.
He knocked me to the ground.
I gave no sign of quitting
Bruised and bloody from my hound.
We took our turns ahowling
At each other and the moon.
I hoped our bloody battles
Would come to end so soon.
And on that day it came to end
The why of it unknown.
The fighting and the challenge stopped
My alpha he’d been shown.
From that day on we were a pack
I’d become his boy alone
Of all the ones he could have chose
I was the one he’d come to own.
Mountains climbed, oceans swam,
Critters caught and ate
If I was going out somewhere
He was my constant mate.
No one else could have me near
Without his warning eye.
No one else could come between
Or dare to get too nigh.
More quick than fast in all he did
No forest creature dared
He’d swipe that massive paw so strong
No forest creature spared.
Birds in flight and four legs running
I would watch in awe
Nothing safe from his pursuit
Escaped his awesome jaw.
Coyotes overtook the lands
And ran in packs with yelping.
Pets would disappear at night
With no one out for helping.
Yet none dared come to our abode
Or anywhere too near
My wolf was fierce and very huge
His howling caused great fear.
He slept outside each night
In piles of leaves or snow.
Telltale leaves or snow aflying
Come morning then I’d know.
I’d have a leash and harness ready
We’d buckle up and go.
A five mile run each morning
Was good enough for me.
But he could run forever
As far as I could see.
Husky and gray wolf was he
A hybrid come of hardy stock.
Neighbors came to see us
As he walked me ‘round the block.
They feared coyote yelping packs
Would hurt their own small dogs.
They’d wait to see us leave our house
And come along for jogs.
Coyotes dared not come near us
When Dief and I were out
The neighbors kept their distance
But near enough to shout.
Dief saw them all as family,
Members of his pack.
No creatures threatened anyone
And safely we’d get back.
The mighty mighty Diefenbaker
Cut a frightening path
All creatures gave great quarter
To miss his mighty wrath.
Yet home with me he softened
And sat upon my lap.
Not knowing any different
We’d settle in for nap.
The show Due South a favorite,
The mountie strange and odd.
His wolf was known as Diefenbaker
My wolf got that nod.
A dozen years together,
We braved the wolfly life.
When sickness fell upon him
I felt a fearful strife.
I’d made him two agreements
When first we formed our pack.
I’d be his friend forever,
And never give him back.
I couldn’t let him suffer
And when the moment came
I held him in my arms so tight
And softly spoke his name.
He held my gaze so sweetly
And tears came to my eye.
We knew his time was over
A time for him to die.
His ashes sit in boxed display
Along with pictures framed.
My Dief is always with me
His wildness semi-tamed.
His ashes will go with me
When my time comes to be.
Our ashes will be blended
And tossed into the sea.
A friendship borne in conflict
The challenge came and went.
Our pack was formed and tightly held
A friendship heaven sent.
He’s waiting for me to catch up
Lest that is my belief.
He’s cleared the path ahead for us
The Mighty Mighty Dief.