Wolves of Timber

Wolves of timber growl and wail,
barking back the colonist.

Their groves—
rooted by Natives,
reaped by nomads,
razed by inhabitants.

In stalking packs they hunt to haunt,
the sproutly ones not needless.

But echoes whimper during the light
when the gloom cannot cooperate.

Another member slain amidst the chains.

Howls too high in the firry air to intimidate,
muffled by the roar of the bladed fight.

Yawps unheard save from the carrion dwellers;
If only packs could ascend the soil.

Their groves then—
raised to inhabit
reaping nomads’
native roots.

Forests’ wood branch, but pines stumped by spines
of sapless shadows rake clear the lands of the wolves of timber.