My wolf-obsessed daughter told me about the misunderstanding regarding "lone wolf" characterizations a couple years ago, and since then I've thought it might be a helpful way to re-perceive ourselves in this world. Since, as you know, "lone wolves" are usually younger wolves who leave the pack to find a mate and start their own pack in a new territory.
I don't keep a hierarchy of the things that add to my ever-simmering rage, but if I did, the rotten-hearted desire to kill wolves would be up toward the top. (Yesterday during my own volunteer reading group time with 6th-graders, they wanted to discuss their favorite animals. Wolves is a really common one among girls. There's something in there.)
She frequently awes me. She has this relationship with an enormous Douglas fir out in the back yard that I realized I'm never going to fully understand but makes me feel celebratory. And every morning recently on the walk to school I get an update on where she is in the story she's writing about a pack of magical winged wolves.
The way she feels about wolves breaks my heart because the hatred is so pervasive, but it's also pushed me to learn far more about them and how to change people's minds about them than I might have otherwise. And to understand what that hatred really means, what it's about, the rot it represents.
Thank you for the beautiful words. The “sportsmen” are nothing but life-takers, so disgusting. I hope that Delilah will keep writing about the beauty she sees around her; thank you for being her teacher!
“Harvesting” wolves. The “harvest” of wolves. I can’t even say it. I can’t even think it; it’s such a perversion of language. I use a different word in my own mind.
But: “the bright bison calf color” — I can play that in my head. All day.
I have been praying for the wolves that roam the west. I truly wish the hunters would stop the madness. It makes no sense. I agree wholeheartedly. Wonderful post. And kudos to Ms. Liberty for her lovely poem. You are doing good work with the children.
Such beautiful words from a 6th grader, I'm in awe of how beautiful we all are as people when I read words like those. Bright bison calf color is something I'm not long going to forget. Just perfect, and so Hopkins. Thanks for the reminder that a bunch of lone wolfs creates a pack. 💜
The beauty of spring in Montana is how slowly it comes. Anticipation. Disappointment. Redemption and growth. Removing layers to expose that "bright bison calf color."🦬🤎🦬
The wolves I saw in Alaska broke me with their beauty. Their eyes! I love them so much. Wolf hunting is sick. Hunting predators at all is sickening. (insert string of swears here).
“Bears are still being born in their dens...” this line comforts me so much...I have been noticing, with every day’s small return of light, how much more lightness there is in my body, as if my bones believe crocuses are popping up around the corner, and tiny peeps sounds like a chorus of birdsong. I have to keep saying “it’s not spring, silly!” to these parts of myself; I find it remarkable how short winter actually is, but in the dense dark of December (and January?) it feels to the mind like forever. Anyway, there is a lot in here to hold. Here for the wolves, the wildness. It’s shifting (slowly, achingly slowly). I do believe it’s shifting...
Great post. In the midst of all the Orwellian distortions aimed at us daily attention to these fundamental things truly worthy of our energy and time are appreciated. Am updating an essay on choosing the right wolves and on a dream of restoring our once intact, living and bountiful prairies. The wrong people have been selected for. We live with the resulting devolution.
Just one of the many posts I have written on this theme of returning and reinventing. Looking forward to concentrating on the complex rich ecosystems of the American prairies.
Feb 8, 2023·edited Feb 9, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray
The word patriotism is certainly bastardized by the MAGAverse. Patriotism is now synonymous with ignorance, stupidity, bigotry, and racism, but Thomas Paine embodies the true literal meaning of the word.
IMHO, the "Rights of Man" is still the most effective critique on the "father of conservatism" Edmund Burke and his baffling monarchist (conservative) philosophy.
Loved reading all of this. Thank you. Also, "The wheel of the year turns slowly, but it does turn! No need to rush. Everything will be on fire before we know it," both made me laugh and wince, seems right on.
The year turns slowly, but it does turn -- I remembered the other day, with great satisfaction, that the rock of our planet wheels through space the same way it did when I was a child, even if the weather is drastically different. The stars are the same, the angle of the sun, the moon in her phases. And I am grateful.
Wolf hunting disgusts me. I have no qualm with hunting to eat—I've killed rabbit and squirrel in my day, and ate venison from hunters—but killing for "sport" is no sport. There's a kind of man who wants subservience. The kind who hits their dog and has a "I don't brake for cats" sticker on his truck (remember those?). The wolf refuses to bend the knee, like their dog. Treeing a mountain lion and shooting it is about as cowardly an act I can think of, like shooting a wolf, an elephant, or a lion and hurting its pack so you can feel proud. I don't consider fighting "manly" but if you want to prove yourself against a living thing, learn wrestling or jiu jitsu. I've been bested by people half my size. And bested others bigger than me and half my age. No one dies and when you are beaten, you aren't angry, because you've learned something. Every time you practice.
Around here it is not unusual at all to see stickers that have a picture of a wolf in crosshairs with the caption, "Smoke a Pack a Day." It's loathsome.
In his book SAND TALK Tyson Yunkaporta talks about community-sanctioned violence in Indigenous Australian communities as a means for settling differences. It's interesting.
I can't help also thinking about the adoption of "alpha male" by cis het, usually white, dudes from long-since debunked wolf "science" as a term for being hyper-masculine, independent, and superior to women, queer folks and many other men. Taking it further, the Omegaverse originating as something from queer culture that has a lot of tenderness and pack dynamics in the m/m stories, but being extremely brutal in the m/f stories.
Yes thank you for bring the wolves in today. And that “brutal torment of language” was accosting me as I read. So grateful that you named it. And then to juxtapose later with “bright bison calf color.” As always there is so much to respond to in your words and sharing. I have more to say but it is not ready yet. Hopefully I will come back to say it. Really sharing my gratitude was the most important thing. So thanks again 🙏🏼
My wolf-obsessed daughter told me about the misunderstanding regarding "lone wolf" characterizations a couple years ago, and since then I've thought it might be a helpful way to re-perceive ourselves in this world. Since, as you know, "lone wolves" are usually younger wolves who leave the pack to find a mate and start their own pack in a new territory.
I don't keep a hierarchy of the things that add to my ever-simmering rage, but if I did, the rotten-hearted desire to kill wolves would be up toward the top. (Yesterday during my own volunteer reading group time with 6th-graders, they wanted to discuss their favorite animals. Wolves is a really common one among girls. There's something in there.)
In my experience on the rez wolf love is common with all the kids, not just the girls. It's something I love about spending time with them.
Love that.
That's a smart kid you've got there . 👍
She frequently awes me. She has this relationship with an enormous Douglas fir out in the back yard that I realized I'm never going to fully understand but makes me feel celebratory. And every morning recently on the walk to school I get an update on where she is in the story she's writing about a pack of magical winged wolves.
The way she feels about wolves breaks my heart because the hatred is so pervasive, but it's also pushed me to learn far more about them and how to change people's minds about them than I might have otherwise. And to understand what that hatred really means, what it's about, the rot it represents.
You and your daughter might enjoy this video from Wisconsin PBS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heDBCpl8nzk
That looks perfect. Thanks, Patrick!
Thank you for the beautiful words. The “sportsmen” are nothing but life-takers, so disgusting. I hope that Delilah will keep writing about the beauty she sees around her; thank you for being her teacher!
Delilah is a wonderful writer, as is her younger sister. I am fortunate to get to spend time with them.
Thank you for this.
“Harvesting” wolves. The “harvest” of wolves. I can’t even say it. I can’t even think it; it’s such a perversion of language. I use a different word in my own mind.
But: “the bright bison calf color” — I can play that in my head. All day.
All day, yes. 🦬
I have been praying for the wolves that roam the west. I truly wish the hunters would stop the madness. It makes no sense. I agree wholeheartedly. Wonderful post. And kudos to Ms. Liberty for her lovely poem. You are doing good work with the children.
Thank you, Francia. 🐺
I’ve never understood the hatred of wolves.
Great poem by Delilah. ❤️
She delivers the goods every week.
Such beautiful words from a 6th grader, I'm in awe of how beautiful we all are as people when I read words like those. Bright bison calf color is something I'm not long going to forget. Just perfect, and so Hopkins. Thanks for the reminder that a bunch of lone wolfs creates a pack. 💜
We ARE all beautiful, aren't we? What a lovely way to put it. Thank you. 💚
The beauty of spring in Montana is how slowly it comes. Anticipation. Disappointment. Redemption and growth. Removing layers to expose that "bright bison calf color."🦬🤎🦬
Absolutely. When the hills turn green and the arrowleaf balsamroot starts to pop, then the lupine ... it's just spectacular.
The wolves I saw in Alaska broke me with their beauty. Their eyes! I love them so much. Wolf hunting is sick. Hunting predators at all is sickening. (insert string of swears here).
Truth.
“Bears are still being born in their dens...” this line comforts me so much...I have been noticing, with every day’s small return of light, how much more lightness there is in my body, as if my bones believe crocuses are popping up around the corner, and tiny peeps sounds like a chorus of birdsong. I have to keep saying “it’s not spring, silly!” to these parts of myself; I find it remarkable how short winter actually is, but in the dense dark of December (and January?) it feels to the mind like forever. Anyway, there is a lot in here to hold. Here for the wolves, the wildness. It’s shifting (slowly, achingly slowly). I do believe it’s shifting...
There is really a different vibe I'm sensing just since Imbolc. It just feels like something is ... stirring. I can't describe it any other way.
Oooh I like that simple word, it’s perfect for how it feels
Great post. In the midst of all the Orwellian distortions aimed at us daily attention to these fundamental things truly worthy of our energy and time are appreciated. Am updating an essay on choosing the right wolves and on a dream of restoring our once intact, living and bountiful prairies. The wrong people have been selected for. We live with the resulting devolution.
Yes. Millions and millions of restored prairie ... what a wonderful thing to imagine!
Inspiring. Maybe possible. May be necessary. Necessity often that true mother of inventions.
Just one of the many posts I have written on this theme of returning and reinventing. Looking forward to concentrating on the complex rich ecosystems of the American prairies.
https://open.substack.com/pub/kwnorton/p/inhabiting-the-sacred-moment?r=boqs0&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
The word patriotism is certainly bastardized by the MAGAverse. Patriotism is now synonymous with ignorance, stupidity, bigotry, and racism, but Thomas Paine embodies the true literal meaning of the word.
IMHO, the "Rights of Man" is still the most effective critique on the "father of conservatism" Edmund Burke and his baffling monarchist (conservative) philosophy.
Hi Chris!
Oh how I love Delilah’s poem! Thank her for creating this gem and thank you for sharing it with us all.
Sincerely,
Melissa
Loved reading all of this. Thank you. Also, "The wheel of the year turns slowly, but it does turn! No need to rush. Everything will be on fire before we know it," both made me laugh and wince, seems right on.
It seems that if we aren't laughing we're crying most of the time, doesn't it?
The year turns slowly, but it does turn -- I remembered the other day, with great satisfaction, that the rock of our planet wheels through space the same way it did when I was a child, even if the weather is drastically different. The stars are the same, the angle of the sun, the moon in her phases. And I am grateful.
Well said. I agree.
Wolf hunting disgusts me. I have no qualm with hunting to eat—I've killed rabbit and squirrel in my day, and ate venison from hunters—but killing for "sport" is no sport. There's a kind of man who wants subservience. The kind who hits their dog and has a "I don't brake for cats" sticker on his truck (remember those?). The wolf refuses to bend the knee, like their dog. Treeing a mountain lion and shooting it is about as cowardly an act I can think of, like shooting a wolf, an elephant, or a lion and hurting its pack so you can feel proud. I don't consider fighting "manly" but if you want to prove yourself against a living thing, learn wrestling or jiu jitsu. I've been bested by people half my size. And bested others bigger than me and half my age. No one dies and when you are beaten, you aren't angry, because you've learned something. Every time you practice.
Around here it is not unusual at all to see stickers that have a picture of a wolf in crosshairs with the caption, "Smoke a Pack a Day." It's loathsome.
In his book SAND TALK Tyson Yunkaporta talks about community-sanctioned violence in Indigenous Australian communities as a means for settling differences. It's interesting.
Gross.
I'll put that book in my queue.
I don't know if you do audio books at all, but Yunkaporta reads it himself and he has a great voice.
I can't help also thinking about the adoption of "alpha male" by cis het, usually white, dudes from long-since debunked wolf "science" as a term for being hyper-masculine, independent, and superior to women, queer folks and many other men. Taking it further, the Omegaverse originating as something from queer culture that has a lot of tenderness and pack dynamics in the m/m stories, but being extremely brutal in the m/f stories.
Dudes at the gym in t-shirts that say in big block letters: ALPHA.
🤮
Yes thank you for bring the wolves in today. And that “brutal torment of language” was accosting me as I read. So grateful that you named it. And then to juxtapose later with “bright bison calf color.” As always there is so much to respond to in your words and sharing. I have more to say but it is not ready yet. Hopefully I will come back to say it. Really sharing my gratitude was the most important thing. So thanks again 🙏🏼
🙏🏽