Fire-lit br half silhouette and half myth br the wolf circles my past br treading the leaves into a bed br till he sleeps, black snout br on extended paws. br Black snout on sulphur body br he nudged his way br into my consciousness. br Prowler, wind-sniffer, throat-catcher, br his cries drew a ring br around my night; br a child's night is a village br on the forest edge. br My mother said br his ears stand up br at the fall of dew br he can sense a shadow br move across a hedge br on a dark night; br he can sniff out br your approaching dreams; br there is nothing br that won't be lit up br by the dark torch of his eyes. br The wolves have been slaughtered now. br A hedge of smoking gun-barrels br rings my daughter's dreams.