Sarah Wallis

Orpheus as a Wolf

I dreamed the wolf running
a grey winter beach, 

primestrong
and full gallopsteam in his coat, 

his paws pounding his prints
in the flying sand da-dum 

da-dum, da-dum, heartstrong
and running now into the rolling 

suck and surf as the waves break
gentle, near the end of the beach 

he makes his turn,
at tongueloll and panting after his run, 

when the plain floods with gold
light, and... disappears, 

as a decision is made that would take
the heart of you or I, and leaves

his ringing howl alone
in the bare cathedral of sea and sky, 

save for the drunken drumbeat
of his own low hung heart

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Sarah Wallis is based in Scotland, UK and publishes cross genre. Highlights include the staging of her works, The Rain King and Laridae, and having work in The Yorkshire Poetry Anthology. Her published works include the chapbooks Medusa Retold, Precious Mettle and How to Love the Hat Thrower.