“Developing the Dew Claw” by Rosemary Griggs
from “Friday’s Slaying”
I wake to a beautiful day angry it isn’t for me personally to manicured
trees and yellow grasses wavering.
When they finally crept out of the sea, wolves walked on 5 toes, dwelt in
forests, and probably lived in trees.
We were almost the same then.
But some beings wandered onto the plains and others preferred the
comfort of leaves.
A spider creeps from a knot in the wooden beam. It begins its descent
towards me maneuvering its strong, thin legs.
Today I don’t feel like walking amongst organized trees to gather the
breakfast fruit.
I don’t want to wash the Pastor’s white shirts and hang them on the
line.
I don’t want to prove myself to the others or feel their eyes upon me.
When a wolf becomes stronger, the pack becomes stronger, and vice
versa. There is no contemplation of the self succeeding or existing
without the group.
I try to understand. I must want to learn to belong.
Copyright © 2009, Rosemary Griggs.
