The Picture Of The Moose From The Air Surrounded By Wolves \ Jay's Moose

Alan: The moose-wolf interactions on Isle Royale in Lake Superior have been studied for over  50 years, but what sticks in my mind is a black-and-white photo taken in the 1960s, all stark shadows and a story reaching its climax.

The Picture Of The Moose From The Air Surrounded By Wolves

bears no resemblance to the cage

where zoo-wolves pad down on us

or lie like movie stills slabbed on the gravel

or display wolfish affection or disgruntlement

for the student ethologists or disappear

into their concrete wolf den for pack meetings.

Nor does it much resemble

Wilt Chamberlain’s 500-wolf-muzzle king-size bed cover

or the legends of wolves waylaying shepherd girls

or the whistles of dog-cock hardhats

from up in the air, the position of advantage.

Nor does it capture the fear of the moose

standing and bleeding numbly in the snow

turning this way and that, but always slower,

always too late,

or the movement of the wolves, which is ballet,

themselves the audience.

It says: deficient moose.

Efficient wolves.  Efficient camera.

Efficient camera man.

Nancy: So much is wrapped in the white butcher paper – for the giver and for the recipient.

Jay’s Moose

sooner or later

we must eat Jay’s moose

the tang of the stalk

antlers blocking the sun

taste the anticipation

moose grows taller

richer

time slows

salt of sweat

jolt of sound

hot in the mouth

and the blood, hot

and here eat

the flavor of dew

frost

can you taste dawn

smell steel

crushed branch of fir

here on your plate

Jay’s moose