A flash of amber eyes in the forest twilight—
I answer with a growl.
In the crepuscular dawn of teenage-hood,
I am tainted with the tang
of menses moon, a howl of hair sprouting
in unexplored places.
Nobody told me about the sweetness
of explosions in the darkness,
lit only by moonlight on wolfish teeth.
Will I be a good mother?
I bark and howl, have a fierce heart,
red as a hood in the heat of my lupine love.
Kim M. Russell, 28th April 2026
It’s Tuesday and time for Poetics at the dVerse Poets Pub, with Mish, who has drawn inspiration from Native American culture, specifically the ‘Seven Grandfather Teachings’.
She explains that these are “a set of Anishinaabe guiding principles for living a good life in harmony with nature and others…all of creation. These ancient teachings have been passed down for generations through stories and ceremonies. Many Native American organizations have adopted these sacred laws as a foundation. Because they are the basis for a worldview rooted in respecting each other and the natural world, these values are often represented by a specific animal.”
Mish has provided a list of animals and their values to help us fulfil our challenge to write poems influenced by the ‘Seven Grandfather Teachings’. I have chosen humility, which is represented by the wolf, who “lives life for his pack. Selfless, not selfish or arrogant. Praises others. Respects his place. Find balance within yourself and all living things.” I took lines from some old poems and re-worked them into a new poem.
writing in north norfolk 
I love how you have captured the wolf in this way…. and it makes me remember that the leader of the pack is always the alpha female…
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Thanks Björn!
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I had to look up “crepuscular”. Love the idea of the menses of the moon and the “sweetness of explosions in the darkness.” The she-wolf coming of age….and lupine love. Just a wonderful write!
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Thank you so much, Lill!
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Wow, Kim! This is shiny and brilliant, coming from reworked lines. A lovely nod to the she-wolf and her coming of age transitions. I like the reflection and humility of “Will I be a good mother?”
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Thank you so much, Mish!
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“red as a hood in the heat of my lupine love.”
Nice one!!!
much love
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Thank you, Gillena!
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A powerful characterization of the wolf. Crepuscular new word for me thanks for the intro.
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Thank you, Truedessa.
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not sure i understand it all but the feeling of loyalty is there, and fiercely so
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Thanks Eric!
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Wonderful Kim – love the use of this metaphor to explore the transition from youth to womanhood. It balances the elements of bodily change with a sense of newfound, wild empowerment 🙌
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Thanks so much, Ange.
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You are welcome ♥️
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My cue is ‘red as a hood’ – this girl experienced the forest and came out the other side. A beautiful write Kim.
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Thankyou kindly, Petru.
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The world needs more she-wolf voices. Great write Kim 👏
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Cheers Shaun.
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This is very good, Kim. A great read.
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Thank you, Roberta.
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🩵
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A true lone wolf….”I bark and howl, have a fierce heart,
red as a hood in the heat of my lupine love.”
Awesomely done! 🐺
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Thank you so much, Cara!
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Wow, I love this wolfy poem!!!!!
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