A Variation Upon Edgar Lee Masters' "Dorcas Gustine"

Know this--I am well acquainted with the wolf,

Well versed in his ways, his demeanor:

His dispassionate relentlessness,

His pitiless focus on hunt and hunted,

His workaday disdain of pity.

There are those who would laud the mythical Spartan lad

Who hid the beast beneath his cloak,

Affecting some gallant stoicism

As the predator consumed without remorse, without restraint,

But I say to you that is mere romantic fol-de-rol,

A wanton failure to apprehend the true moral.

I have learned that there is no accommodation,

No covenant to be reached with the wolf,

And any attempt to do so is merely to invite destruction,

And so I choose to engage him openly, without reservation,

Rolling tail-over-teacup in the streets,

Attempting to hold his jaws open with bare hands

While those who find such battle unseemly and uncouth

Jeer and hoot from porch and portico.

No matter, for I will continue to meet him on my terms,

For staid suffering in the hopes of reaching some accord with the cur

Is the not the act of the noble sage:

It is the mock heroics of the coward,

The sad acquiescence of the simpering fool.

Reviews

[CD Campbell]

Kortas, I'm afraid there are times that I had to play the wolf. Then on the good days, shed the stinking, hairy skin, then play at being the man. Are you saying that you are well acquainted with the wolf and know it's ways due to it's past marks on you or is it a small piece of you that you had to discard? Either way, there is no accord, you speak the truth. To be silent is to be a coward. I will think more upon this well written work. It's good to see you on my computer again. CD

P.S. The tag is hilarious.

[W.k.kortas]

And too long since I've heard from you as well, old man.