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My Carcajou
“Life will reveal all to you when the time is right
and the moon is bright.”--Guru S. Gill.
In the great northern forests where Sasquatch has
been seen and not seen, where winter has stabbed
into the heart of autumn with icicle stilettos and
deep dangerous freezes, there are isolated places
where there is no man’s track, no smell of tobacco,
no tread-marks, no oder of alcohol, no garbage, no
zap of neon, sirens or horns.
There is a snow wraith that prowls in the deepest
shadows, striking fear into the hearts of cougar,
bear, and men, that possesses granite muscles
undulating beneath a striped mantle, a little
monster with musk sacs, part bear, part badger,
part skunk, with savage ferocity and courage
equaled nowhere--the white wolverine.
Only a few men have ever seen the albino Carcajou,
but I have many times, in my mind, seen the glorious
swath from the powerful shoulders to the base of its
great bushy tail, and the fearsome black-green weasel
eyes, and the razor fangs that can crush bone or bite
through a metal roof. I have seen the skunkbear
sitting back on its haunches like a wolf, and it has
seen me.
From Winter’s skull cap,
it expects me, as I leave
the stink of cities behind.
Glenn Buttkus
Haibun
Posted over at d'Verse Poet's Pub
14 comments:
Your writing is often stirring with a metamorphosis of honest and raw imagery that captivates your reader.
"where winter has stabbed
into the heart of autumn with icicle stilettos..."
This is my favorite line. That imagery alone reminds me of the likes of T.S. Eliot or even Frost. Such a beautifully written piece for the prompt. You are an inspiring writer, Glenn.
I have seen the tracks of wolverine in the mountains in winter, but only once I have seen it for real. A shadow moving quickly across the mountainside...
It must be amazing to be in that sort of wilderness. I also liked the icicle stilettos. A visceral image.
Wow, Glenn. As I read this I can't help but think that the albino wolverine is your totem animal. One of your most powerful poems so far that I've read. I'd love to go to that place and not feel fear.
So much to love here especially; "there are isolated placeswhere there is no man’s track, no smell of tobacco,no tread-marks, no oder of alcohol, no garbage, nozap of neon, sirens or horns." Amazing write, Glenn 💝
Oh, Mr Glenn, you DO have a way with words! This is beautifully written. Kudos!
Your musky creature sounds to me like the death angel of the wood! You have some great imagery!
This wolverine seems like a true wonder of nature. I love the picture you paint of leaving the city behind and entering the vast wilderness.
You have opened up a world totally alien to me -- terrific.
This is superbly crafted! I loved every line of it, nicely done :))
I agree with Jane’s comment that she left on the dVerse comments, this poem has a certain menace to it that differs from your usual irony and wit. The sense of danger is palpable. I love the way you describe winter in the great northern forests as having ‘stabbed into the heart of autumn with icicle stilettos’, and the snow wraith that strikes fear into wild animals as well as men - safer to see it only in the mind, though, Glenn. Your haiku really hits the spot.
One of the most descriptive haibuns I've read .... beautifully penned.
Wow Glenn, powerful my brother! Love the way you ended the prose section. I could see it like s stare down.
Bravo! Reminded me of a poem by John Haines where he met a moose on the trail.
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