A TRIBUTE TO A FRIEND
His fur, like soft shadows
With flashing feet we careened as one
through misty meadows.
In larger then smaller circles he ran
As if to say catch me if you can
He would pass close by
Lighting my face with his golden eyes
There was no way to disguise
In this game it was my turn to devise
Some way to catch that golden stare
Then he would come close and stop
For he knew he was on top
With a swish of his tail
And without fail
A run, a hop
Into the distance he spun
Feather-weight feet through the snow
It was his joy above and below
How I loved to watch him glide
Past my feet, past my side
And when a snowball I would toss
He caught it quick, that I know
So insulated this wolf he was
Snowflakes fell as if just fuzz
In the sunlight they would gleam
As if from a land of dream
Never melting they would stay
On his fir both night and day
A wolf some say is a beast of snow
That I don’t really know
But see those paws, how big they grow
As if snowshoes all their own
Standing in wait for springtime sun
The jokes he played cemented our bond
The grace he shared both day and night
He was to me a special light
In full fur, in full flight
He vowed to live with all his might
It was indeed a beautiful sight.
When he pushed me out of bed
Kicking hind legs on side and head
To the floor I would often go
Seeing this must have been quite a show
But it was fun, I can tell you that
It was his joke and not a spat
Trust, that’s the word and a must
For what is life without that trust
He would often come to me
With wagging tail, those eyes of glee
He’d place his paw upon my knee
And fill my heart with such reverie
I believed in him
He believed in me
Neither would ever betray that trust
Without that trust no story true
A simple fact I share with you.
Could it ever be they said
You’re not in fear, not in dread?
Someday he could turn on you
The friend you thought so very true
But they were wrong you see
He joined my life, became part of me
Wolves have many legends made
Some good some bad, some fade away
Many native tribes saw them true
This I really should share with you
Brave hunters, they did share
Going as one, soon everywhere
To many generations he gave
Born in the spring, became fast in the fall
Soon in life they gave their all
I celebrate his genes are with us still
As his body rests on a Nova Scotia hill
Generations now come and go
I think of those wolves in play, in snow
Recalling those days when he licked my face
In his heart there was not disgrace
Through his life there was such grace
Now he’s in his resting place
I cried when he left my side
Its nature’s way I must abide
But in my heart he will never go
That is a truth I shall always know
I love those days we shared rain or shine
This was my wolf, yes he was mine
Such a friend he became
Even now as I think his name
A true friend, so very fine
On many days notes fell aside
Not the time for science pride.
I had my friend right by my side
The joy that came I cannot hide.
Some days were quiet, as if night filled the day
That’s when his shadow fur came into play
For his happiness I would pray
Then that inside voice – hooray hooray a life so gay
I knew he was well another special day.
These words now hard to say
For I miss my friend
Who’s life has gone away
Life is short; its nature’s way
From a pup I saw him grow
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow
Soon muscles rippled beneath his shadowed fur
With a touch their strength would often show
I would then hold him close
This dear friend I loved the most
Ah, those times he would lick my face
It was his heart, at its own pace
Our friendship grew, we had our place
I know he had a happy life
Rarely did we fall in strife
So many said this would not work
Your wolf will turn out to be a jerk
Be careful, he will go berserk
How wrong they were
They did not see
What a dear friend he was to me
Ah his voice such music to my ears
It eased away all my tears
With melodies his song so fine
Almost heaven, almost devine
When the clarinet I would play
He wouldn’t run but stand and stay
Holding his head high in the air
He’s join in with tones so fair
Some say a wolf’s howl causes fear
To me it’s music soaring dear
I love those days we shared rain or shine
This was my wolf, he still is mine
That burst of fur so very fine
Such a friend he became
Even now I think his name
A partner dear I do proclaim
In the field those berries he’d pluck
It was a skill, it was not luck
With his lips he pulled them ripe
He picked the right ones, was quite a sight
A wolf eating berries one might say
That was no unusual on these days
On many a day notes fell aside
Not the time for science pride
I held my friend right by my side
The joys I felt I cannot hide
Some days were quiet, as if night filled the day
That’s when his shadow fur came into play
For his happiness I would pray
Then that inside voice – hooray, hooray a life so gay
I rested assured he was well for another special day
So gentle he could be
And that was not just by me.
To others he also met
That I shall ne’r forget
True yet there is regret
These words now hard to say
For I miss my friend
Whose life has gone away
Life is short, its nature’s way
That our two hearts were blended
That part has gone, that part has ended
From a pup I saw him grow
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow
Soon muscles rippled beneath his shadowed fur
With a touch their strength would often show
I would so often hold him close
This dear friend I love the most
Oh yes those times he licked my face
Sharing life with noble grace
We had our place
Then that day when he died
It tore my flesh from side to side
That soft fur would soon disappear
And there I was without him near
A friend like this never more
The dear wolf whom I still adore
This wolf such a noble beast
Moving in shadow and not the least
With paws that barely touched the ground
A grace that’s so rarely found
With a pace, so delicate, so fine
In nature’s way almost devine
In magnificence he grew from boy to man
It is silence I should now command
He is my lad to this day
And when into his grave I let him lay
I knew his body would soon decay
But through it all I need to say
Lupey – you are with me even today
So how do I thank you my friend so true
Perhaps just to say “I love you”.
Thanks for the pranks
Thanks for the games
Thanks for teaching me so true
These are reasons I do love you
There is so much more that I could say
But not right now, not today
With magnificence he grew from boy to man
It is silence I should now command
He is my lad to this day
But through it all I need to say
Lupey – you are with me now, today
Your legacy lives in my heart
Your brilliance in my mind
Casting soft shadows in the sun
To this day we are one
It was a joy we together won
For it was a joy we together won
My wolf, my friend, my fury son
John Fentress spent many rewarding years with his dear wolf, Lupey. They came together in England when John was a student. From there they traveled on the Queen Elizabeth to New York, drove to John’s parents’ house in Maryland, stayed together at a kennel in Rochester, New York, drove with one another to Eugene Oregon and finally flew to Nova Scotia where Lupey passed away. John often remarks that Lupey taught him as much about animal behavior and the joys of nature as had any other creature. John has now completed a book in Lupey’s honor: LUPEY JOURNALS – LESSONS FROM THE HEART OF A WOLF. Their story together is heart warming and unique.
Photo Credits
All Photos © John Fentress – All Rights Reserved
Guest Author Bio
John Fentress
I began my academic studies in psychology, with a minor in the biological sciences. From an early age I sought to explore the roots both of human existence and our relationships to nature. I had the amazing good fortune to live life with a special wolf when I pursued my PhD studies at Cambridge UK. The field is called “ethology”, the comparative and biological study of behavior. In addition to my scientific studies, which have moved into the neurosciences, I have long had deep philosophical interests concerning questions such as what we as humans are all about, and how we connect with the universe more generally.
Blog / Website: Lupey Wolf
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