Lupus Ferrius
A kind face,
Resolute and strong,
Soft as the snow upon your face,
Fur crowning rust-kissed
All about those eyes that hold--
Hold, Lo! and refuse to let go.
Strong in sinew, muscle, and bone,
Fur soft to mine touch
And warm to mine skin.
Proud you stand beyond touch,
Ephemeral in all but sight, yet rare is sight alone.
Fur as red as copper, as rust;
As red as the dunes and mountain ravine
Dost you tread not.
Bold and stark do you stand on a background
Of white and green, often feared and rarely seen.
You hold tall in all your all--
That is, your wisdom and glory if Is,
For no king stands here in the wild,
But if such a thing came to be, you, king of the kingless
And king of yourself, would surely stand
As a Chief among Chiefs.
Be as you be and follow no other.
Always to thine own self be true,
and trust not even thine own brother.
Fur though soft as soft can be,
The wolf of iron is all that is seen.
So to iron wolf, stand as you stand
In quiet wisdom and clamorous all
To hold lore and sentry o'er your land.
Fight and hold to thine own self be true
and give up not till your last infinite breath is removed.
Fur snow-covered and beauteous yet deadly.
Cross not the wolf you thought was dead
For the wolf can bite you with only its head.
Iron wolf, stand strong and proud, and to thine lost
And thine lost not, break the night open with your howl.
Look to the night. Look to the moon. Give up not your land
Till thine last breath is doggedly crooned.