A subsonic growl emerges
As the red wolf plunges forth
From his concrete cave.
He shoulders aside the weaker creatures,
In his rush, for the men inside
Live for the hunt.
The siren howl is high at first,
Wild and eager, hysterical.
As he gains his stride
On the pavement path,
His whine swings into a rocking pulse,
Keeping time with the fire,
Or the blood spurting from a man.
Behind the pack there is a white dog,
Sturdy and square, trained and sure,
With a lyrical howl.
He keeps pace yet there is no lust
For the hunt, no need for blood.
They circle the waiting disaster,
Disgorging men in black and white,
The hulks rumble as they wait.
Wolves lick up the flames
While the white-dressed men
Lap up the blood.
The wolf prowls as the flames die
But stands guard as the
White dog points to the man.
He has chosen to save.

i.
I told a girl she was beautiful
and that she should go easy on herself today
why can’t I tell myself the same thing

ii.
My friend told me she has depression
I hugged her while she cried
and told her she would be okay
why can’t I believe that for myself

iii.
I became an online listener
for people who have mental illnesses
and spent hours convincing them
they are good enough
why can’t I convince myself

iv.
I stayed on the phone
to convince my friend not to self harm
for five hours
telling him that it's okay
to be kind to yourself over and over
why can’t I tell myself that

v.
I spend so much time
saving other’s lives
why can’t I remember to save my own?