Secret Pond Of Laughing Wolf

Secret Pond Of Laughing Wolf
© Surazeus
2005 08 16

Laughing Wolf stares at clear blue water 
reflecting shimmer of noon Summer sun. 
I walked seven Winters from Sawkatuket 
toward dying sun through forests of men 
who wanted to make me their slave-wife 
then over endless desert of white sand 
I trudged dreaming in vain about blue rain. 
I found a green mountain with pine trees 
so now I sit alone feeling a cool breeze. 

I saw strange men with snow-white skin 
kill my mother and father with sticks 
that spit fire so I followed sun path 
over hills and deserts to find a haven 
where I can hide forever inside my heart. 
Laughing Wolf eats fresh-roasted rabbit 
and drinks boiled water with willow bark. 
When she lies awake for hours at night 
she counts stars twinkling like eyes. 

This is my secret pond hidden in mountains 
of red mushrooms and singing elk and pines. 
Laughing Wolf dances around her small pond 
twelve times under red shimmering moon 
feeling blood flow from her aching heart. 
Maybe I will return to Walatowa next Spring 
and let Running Bear kiss me again for fun 
she whispers as Autumn winds blow more cold. 

Laughing Wolf gathers nuts and red mushrooms 
and smokes rabbits to prepare for Winter 
storing food she gathers in small cavern 
she found where steam curls from gloom. 
Pausing she watches large hawk circle slow 
overhead hoping its eyes do not see her move 
as she glides silent in blue forest shade. 
Wrapping elk fur tight over her shoulders 
she huddles by fire smelling sweet smoke 
as flames crackle scarlet from pine cones. 

Laughing Wolf dreams she walks white sands 
of endless flat desert without fresh water 
or trees to shade her head from glaring sun. 
Snakes rattle tails and bare sharp teeth 
and black tarantulas crawl on her legs 
when she wakes and scorpions crawl fast 
down her back as she glides in gold shade. 
Sitting alone in desert sand at sunset 
Laughing Wolf weeps remembering sweet face 
of her mother among golden trees of Autumn 
when leaves of red and yellow fluttered slow 
covering wigwam on shore of Narragansett Sea. 

I walked far west from lush Massachusett hills 
leaving behind sweet restless voice of waves 
and wandered lost in white sands of death 
till I found trail into secret mountain vales 
where I hide from men with weapons of hate. 
How long before they discover my secret pond 
Laughing Wolf wonders as she watches snow fall 
shrouding silent mountain meadows in sad peace.