The Wolf Child

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BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

The Wolf Child

#1 Post by BobBradshaw » 24 Jun 2020, 21:28

V2:
The Wolf Child

Joey grew silent as moss.
Hopeless, his father said.
Autistic, the doctors replied.

Everyone stuck their face
into his. The boy grew thin, his hips
narrowing like a wolf's.

He loped through an asylum's halls.
A nurse, Jan, followed.
They walked the grounds together, stares

trailing them, nervous as birds.
Just as he found himself trusting her,
speaking again, Father showed up.

He lowered his eyes, listening
as Father refused consent
for him to stay longer.

Jan begged him to leave Joey
with her. As always
he was stubborn, like a trap...

Back home, the boy was secretive,
lethargic, like a dying animal.
Exasperated at his silence,

Father dumped Joey
at another asylum.
where he lived in the shadows,

a wolf watching from a wood's
edge. Jan came to visit.
Wary but hopeful,

the boy slipped his hand into hers.
They sat on a bench.
A whisper can gut you like a knife.

In a hush she apologized;
Joey couldn't leave
with her.

For a moment his eyes grew moist.
He turned his head,
as if hearing a nearby predator,

slipping forever into silence
as he pulled his hand
away.



V1:
The Wolf Child


I grew silent as moss.
Hopeless, my father said.
Autistic, the doctors replied.

Everyone stuck their snout
in my face. I grew thin, my hips
narrowing like a wolf's.

I loped through an asylum's halls.
A nurse, Jan, followed me.
We walked the grounds together, stares

trailing us, nervous as birds.
Just as I found myself trusting her
Father showed up.

I lowered my eyes, listening
as he refused consent
for me to stay longer.

Jan begged him to leave me
with her. As always
he was stubborn, like a trap...

In his house my scent grew thick
like a dying animal's at dusk.
Exasperated at my silence,

he dumped me
at another asylum.
where I have lived in the shadows,

a wolf watching from a wood's
edge. Jan came to visit.
Wary but hopeful,

I slipped my hand into hers.
We sat on a bench.
A whisper can gut you like a knife.

In a hush she apologized;
I couldn't leave
with her.

For a moment my eyes grew moist.
I turned my head,
as if hearing a nearby predator,

slipping forever into silence
as I pulled my paw
away.

SivaRamanathan
Posts: 1168
Joined: 14 May 2011, 20:30

Re: The Wolf Child

#2 Post by SivaRamanathan » 24 Jun 2020, 22:20

S
Very Intense poem. But I need time to read and reread.

S

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: The Wolf Child

#3 Post by BobBradshaw » 29 Jun 2020, 01:57

I have decided to tell the story in 3rd person.

SivaRamanathan
Posts: 1168
Joined: 14 May 2011, 20:30

Re: The Wolf Child

#4 Post by SivaRamanathan » 30 Jun 2020, 23:08

I must read it in the morning when my head is clear. Sorry,I was in a Poetry Workshop,and saw this only now.

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