September 24, 2011

Positioning the Pack

The pack moves. The ground says. If you see one of us, ten hide in the green.

We adjust on the move.

We follow he who is worthy. We bring food to our weak. We move slowly for our injured. Our young work only when they have grown completely.

We mate for life with one partner.

We take down the largest animals of the land, but only what we need.

Our lives are man’s aspirations.

I know where you come from. I have seen your beginnings. I was a part of it.

Look at me. Look into my eternal eyes and know it is true.

I have seen your end too.


Submitted for dVerse repetition and the Big Bad Wolf Exercise.

54 comments:

Jill said...

The pack. They live and die together. Very compelling.

Claudia said...

gasp! this is dangerously intoxicating write ed...masterfully delivered...we adjust on the move..BANG..we follow he who is worthy..BANG...gave me shivers and feel respect at the same time

Susie Clevenger said...

We adjust on the move...follow he that is worthy...humanity should be better about honing their instincts on deciding who is worthy...We think wolves mere animals, but perhaps we should emulate their strength, wisdom, and commitment...great job!

Mary said...

This is wonderful. The wolf definitely has some qualities that humankind could learn from. The photo works well too.

Laurie Kolp said...

Ed- You never cease to amaze me...

~laurie

Sage Ravenwood said...

Beautifully written. There is more wisdom and compassion in the heart of a wolf than most men. (Hugs)Indigo

Daydreamertoo said...

Wonderful, so in tune with nature and its needs.
If we were wise (Which most of mankind isn't ) we would learn so much from those creatures we use and abuse with such abandon.
Wolves have always been one such ill treated animals.
Another powerful write and lovely read from you again.

Anonymous said...

Our lives are man’s aspirations. - is an interesting thought.

Fireblossom said...

This is hard truth wrapped in snow. I really like how you have the wolves "speak", and turn the tables on smug humankind. And that picture, what a remarkable one it is.

hedgewitch said...

This is one of the subtler ways to repeat, just through structuring the same words in the same ways at the beginnings of phrases,and it's extremely effective here. This really gives a feeling of listening to a wild thing's thoughts, of your hairs rising at something you hear off in the woods..great piece of short descriptive, evocative writing that flirts on the boundaries of both poetry and prose.

Unspoken said...

Your writing makes me smile, as do the comments here!

Arron Shilling said...

like evrything about this one ed - smart devices utilised - form, content all great - a super package provides a very entertaining and satisfying read

Lisa said...

For a moment I thought it was a cat. I am scared of cats. Cats cats, not lions or tigers, and lately it seemed to me everybody wanted to talk about cats. It had to do with Mr Pat. Your wolves are great, I am impressed with wolves now that I know about them. I am of the wolf pack. And your words give me that sense of belonging, I feel safe and protected and that I am moving with the pack.

cj Schlottman said...

ed,

This is a very visceral and penetrating. The repetition is subtle and adds to the weight of the piece, I believe. I followed the link to "dVerse repetition" to investigate and may give it a try sometimes. I truly admire your work and you ability to shape it in so many ways. This is poetic in many ways, but you know I see poetry in much of your work!

Namaste...........cj

Karen Jones Gowen said...

All I could think of as I read this was how the pack seems to be now moving en masse from Facebook to Google +. Clearly I am spending way too much time on social media.

Pat Hatt said...

Many qualities, most, humans never seem able to grasp. And we are supposedly the higher evolved ones. While I guess we don't go where ever we please, that's one plus, at least most..haha

Anonymous said...

Great poem, reminds of the time I met a wolf in the wild, I could tell from his eyes he didn't need anything from me.

Mark Kerstetter said...

Your admiration for the animal sings out. There's a lot to admire about wolves. Everything you've said here corresponds with what I remember reading about them.

Scarlet said...

I have read a lot of wolf stories (including romantic ones)
so your lines resonates with me.

I want to look close into their eyes actually ~

Yes, I am looking at you ~

Patricia said...

Oh, those eyes. Made me think of Never Cry Wolf. Great poem... powerful in your delivery.

darlin said...

Another fantastic piece Ed, the depth and I want to say intensity, but thinking that over I think it's more of a connection that I feel, not intense by no means.

Have a blessed and wonderful Sunday!

Kerry O'Connor said...

Wow! This chorus of wolves is fabulous. I could hear it spoken on the move, as the pack returned to the den at nightfall. It has all the resonance of Kipling.

Thank you for saying such good words for the big bad wolves.

Madhulika said...

wow... amazing... :)

Almas Kiran Shamim said...

you are such a wonderful writer Ed....
am loving ur work...

this piece reminded me of Savage Garden's Animal Song...

"Animals and children tell the truth, they never lie.... which one is more human.. there's a thought ..now you decide"

Yvonne Osborne said...

I think it's all been said. Nothing to add except my admiration. Man stacks up poorly against the big bad wolf. Thanks for reminding us of that.

ayala said...

a wonderful write, Ed.

Brian Miller said...

very nice, ed. the wolf pack makes a great vehicle for this...intensity for sure....nice as well giving them voice....

Jase said...

Love this blog post! A really interesting read! Followed!

Anonymous said...

wonderful write and interesting viewpoint bringing life to the wolf ... us wolves need to stick together

Maude Lynn said...

"Our lives are man’s aspirations."

Yes!

Ann LeFlore said...

The pack can relate to more than the animal kingdom and you are so right the pack lives and dies together. But this can be true in real life also and how some people form a pack and in the end die for this pack well done thanks
http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/09/24/loneliness-the-anger-of-lost-hope/

Unknown said...

Very intense, loved it thank you

Leontien said...

Always loved wolves. Had pictures in my bedroom, and framed (huge) pictures on the wall...

Great post!
Hope you have a good weekend!
Leontien

Betsy Brock said...

They are misunderstood, aren't they? Let's blame Little Red Riding Hood....

Unknown said...

I know where you come from. I have seen your beginnings. I was a part of it.

Look at me. Look into my eternal eyes and know it is true.

I have seen your end too.

... from the first line I felt the wolf looking into my eyes, my eyes shying away.
intriguing write! Nicely done.
~ deb

Ed Pilolla said...

thanks for the sugar:)

i liked the art becuz there are no more packs of wolves around. i'm not a fan of zoos, and we on tv are lone wolves. the loners become our image of the wolf. but a lone wolf is a dead wolf. the strength in the wolf is all about the pack. i'm reading a fascinating book about wolves by jon franklin, who also wrote the best book on writing i ever read. the wolf book is called a wolf in the parlor, and it's about how wolves and humans may have worked together to evolve. i'm not yet halfway through, but it has been lighting my imagination on fire about wolves for while and hopefully will continue to.

Jyoti Mishra said...

Hello Ed..
loved the whole concept n imagery of pack.
u write beautifully.

Thanks 4 dropping by n leaving ur comment :)

Samantha VĂ©rant said...

Nice! And I'm a little scared. There's a rogue German Sheppard in the neighborhood. What if ten more are hiding in the bushes?

Alexandra said...

Ed,

this is wonderful.

I have always been intrigued by wolves, wolf packs.

Because of this, I read a lot of wolf pack stories/wild dog stories to my 3 boys.


They now share the same fascination.

There is respect here for the wolf.

I want to start reading about them again.

Any good books you can point out for me?

Really, really liked this.

Kelley said...

I like how it seems like facts are being listed methodically. We mate with one partner. No time for nonsense. :)

Jaclyn said...

Are we really a pack of wolves, are we really pride of lions? I love this metaphor, and as usual, it's beautifully written, but I do not agree with the wolf pack. I think most people are every man for themselves and I don't think they chose one mate for life. Love this! Great discussion starter for our lunch break today :)

suvaiba said...

hey,
thankyou for leaving by and dropping that precious comment of yours..!
you write amazingly...! i can feel the honesty in your work..! and your blog is pretty..! :)

PhilO♥ said...

Gave me a were wolf feeling :P

You write very well!
The words are very gripping. The post was amazing! Fast moving. It was as if the green eyes were staring at me from a distance :P

Thank you for stopping by :) Do come by again!
You are a great writer :)

Take Care!

Pramoda Meduri said...

That's smart writing, i need not say, u r already a journalist..;)

Do u write columns too?

Well.. nice to meet u here and would like to follow ur blog from now on..

Have good time..
Pramoda

suvaiba said...

hey,
thankyou for leaving by and dropping that precious comment of yours..!
you write amazingly...! i can feel the honesty in your work..! and your blog is pretty..! :)

Rob Forget said...

very awesome post! +followed, come check my blog out when you get the chance! http://mightyideas.blogspot.com

Haritha said...

wow!highly hypnotizing....
the picture adds to the effect
good work!

kaykuala said...

ED,
They are not called a pack of wolves for nothing.They are certainly well organised.Thanks for highlighting them!

Hank

Crazy Life of a Writing Mom said...

Such a powerful piece!

Ella said...

This is wonderful Ed! I love the pacing, the anticipation and the eternal eyes! You provided great images that build the tension! Well Done~

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I LOVE this! so much!

My Inner Chick said...

ed,
humanity can learn much from the "pack." X

Preeti S. said...

Wow. Brilliant and captivating description! I have somehow grown a liking for works regarding the wolf and its life. Your poem, its inmsightful, its creepy and has simulatenously justifications regarding all the doings of the pack. Absolute favourite!

Suzi Smith said...

i'm looking
i see
i shiver
with recognition