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Canis Lupus

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I'd been watching him for years, (black as coal), Almost two decades now, an extraordinary age for a wolf ... Every full moon, and only then, he came to the clifftops. To howl? Yes, to howl ... certainly that, for his voice was majestic, But it was far more than just a howl, it was a cry ... a sad, mournful weep, Torn from the depths of his sorrow, and cast in hatred at the moon. He'd lost his mate there, you see, a beautiful she-wolf ... Eyes like tanzanite, with a thick, shaggy coat the color of sea foam. I had witnessed it myself, all those years ago, under a full, blood moon ... They had been playing in the long grass at the top of the cliffs, And a gust of wind had swept her off the edge ... and into the sea. Now, he howled, and he would howl until the moon ... was no more. ~ 1st Place ~ in the "Wolves and the Moon" Poetry Contest, Julia Ward, Judge & Sponsor.

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Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 9/4/2018 3:51:00 PM

A beautiful poem of the devotion wolves have for their mates. Congratulations on your fantastic First Place! : )

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 9/4/2018 9:36:00 PM

Many kind thanks to you, Connie, I'm really pleased that you like this one - it's special to me. Blessings, Dear Poet! :-) <3

Gershon Wolf

Date: 8/26/2018 2:13:00 PM

Yet another Barden winner. Well deserved, Gregory! Best wishes, Gershon

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/27/2018 1:31:00 AM

Many kind thanks, my good friend - I pray all is well with you and yours! Blessings! :-)

Susan Gentry

Date: 8/26/2018 1:07:00 AM

Back again to congratulate you again for your win again. Well done!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/26/2018 1:31:00 AM

Many thanks to you, Susan, that's very kind of you! Blessings! :-) <3

Sandra Haight

Date: 8/24/2018 8:48:00 AM

So heart-wrenching, Greg, but so beautifully-written sharing such a sad story, but also awakening our realization that some wild animals mate for life and do have feelings, emotions, and a sense of loss much like we do. Congratulations on your well-deserved 1st Place win! Sandra :) <3

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/26/2018 1:30:00 AM

Thank you SO much, Dear Sandra, I'm so glad you enjoyed this and were touched by it ... you are so right - wolves, (and many species), mate for life, and it is so sad when they lose a mate ... they are often shunned by the pack following, but sometimes adopted as an "uncle" or "aunt", watching the pups when the alphas go hunting. And yes, they certainly DO feel things deeply, especially the social creatures as these, elephants, mammals, apes, etc.. Blessings! :-) <3

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 8/23/2018 7:17:00 PM

Such a beauty! Congrats! A fave, dear Greg!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/26/2018 1:25:00 AM

Oh, that's very kind, Kim, thank you very much, friend! :-) <3

Janis Thompson

Date: 8/23/2018 4:42:00 PM

Well done and very emotionally moving. Congratulations on your well deserved placement.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/26/2018 1:25:00 AM

I'm pleased you enjoyed it, Sian, thank you so much, my friend! :-) <3

Francesca Pappadogiannis

Date: 8/23/2018 12:35:00 PM

Amazing poetry! Congratulations on your win Gregory :)

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/26/2018 1:25:00 AM

Many kind thank you's to you, Francesca - blessings! :-) <3

Line Gauthier

Date: 8/23/2018 6:57:00 AM

Wow - a moving poem, Gregory. Superbly penned. Congrats on your most deserved gold medal win.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/26/2018 1:24:00 AM

That's very kind of you, Line - thank you so much! :-) <3

Wendy Watson

Date: 8/23/2018 4:30:00 AM

What did I tell you! Your muse is alive and kicking, Gregory! Congratulations! Wendy

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/26/2018 1:24:00 AM

Thank you so much, Wendy - you were right! You must be my lucky charm! :-) <3

L. J. Carber

Date: 8/17/2018 6:37:00 AM

Congrats Greg, this is #1 with me, both for its beautiful 'wild' imagery and the subtle but powerful metaphor of an ill wind taking away the beloved, leaving one to howl at the moon...really well done!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/18/2018 11:17:00 PM

This is such a thoughtful and wonderful comment, LJ, and it means a lot to me - I'm so pleased you enjoyed this one, and thank you so much! Blessings! :-)

Susan Gentry

Date: 8/17/2018 12:09:00 AM

Congratulations on your win. I could almost hear him howling with pain of loss. A sad beautiful poem of loss experienced under the blood moon with grieving under full moons. An amazing poem, again.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/18/2018 11:14:00 PM

You are very sweet to say so, Susan, and you are always sincere with your comments - thank you so very much, this means a lot! :-) <3

Francesca Pappadogiannis

Date: 8/15/2018 12:28:00 PM

Such perfection in your imagery. I was lost in the poem. Congrats Gregory - loved it!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/15/2018 9:45:00 PM

Oh, this is so sweet of you to say, Francesca, and I'm so happy you enjoyed my poem! :-) <3

Eve Roper

Date: 8/15/2018 9:49:00 AM

Beautiful imagery, Greg, congratulations on your fantastic win and good luck in Julia's contest. Eve~`*

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/15/2018 9:43:00 PM

That's very kind of you, Eve, and I thank you so very much! Blessings! :-) <3

Wendy Watson

Date: 8/15/2018 4:16:00 AM

This may have been fictitious, Gregory but I certainly believed that you had been present to witness the sad event. I looked into those tanzanite ( what a wonderful word) teary eyes, felt the pierce of the anguished howl and was touched by this beautiful poem.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/15/2018 9:43:00 PM

This is such a wonderful comment, Wendy, and it means a great deal to me ... I work hard to becreative with phrasing and imagery, but still make sense and beauty, so I appreciate it SO much when it's recognized! Blessings, my friend! :-) <3

John Hamilton

Date: 8/14/2018 10:20:00 AM

Eyes like Tanzanite, coat the color of sea foam, very compelling write with great imagery Greg!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 8/15/2018 9:41:00 PM

Very kind of you, my friend ... thank you SO much! :-)