The Wolf and the Bird

A villanelle for winter. . .

Note: The following poem is a villanelle. (Look it up. I don't have time to explain it here.) It was prompted by this picture.

The Wolf and the Bird

The wolf looks out upon the snow.
The ice reflects the pale dark light.
You wonder what the bird can know

And as the blizzard winds do blow
Across the lake with all their might.
The wolf looks out upon the snow

There's things the forest does not show.
They lie too far from human sight.
You wonder what the bird can know.

And as he sees the snowdrifts grow.
And knows the world is turning white.
The wolf looks out upon the snow.

With a quick flutter dark wings go
back and forth in the dark night.
You wonder what the bird can know

While nature's light is very low.
The bird won't fly, the wolf won't bite.
The wolf looks out upon the snow.
You wonder what the bird can know.