The Fanstastic Ms. Fox

Hour of the Wolf

I thought naked apes went out in groups

in the day.

So, why are you up now, alone?

You heard her scratching outside.

You can feel her hungry eyes.

Is it your money she gnaws at?

Or is she tracking your love?

Or staring at that newly-found lump?

Or perhaps you're just shivering,

scented, someday prey.

You shouldn't be here,

but it's okay, we all are.

Welcome to this thing of ours,

a whisper club with a secret knock:

one minute, two minutes, three minutes, four.

Come here often?

Do you plan to stay?

You can, some, bitten, run with her,

live in this hour, to knock,

and do more than sit at doorsteps.

Soon the sun will come up

and the day will begin

but you'll still be here

unbaptized by sleep

a leftover from yesterday

You know it will end,

one way or the other.

Until then, you're here with us:

wading through your time

in the hour of the wolf.