My coat was ragged—
But my eyes shone bright;
I traveled in darkness
Cuz I couldn't afford the light.

I lost two mates to people—
One I ran to as she died;
The second's den was bombed
With the pups and she inside.

And you wonder why I hate you?
Why I fed off your cattle?
You asked why I fought you
As we waged battle after battle?

You wonder if it's hatred I felt
When it's your damned traps I'd unearth
And felt contempt as I flipped it over
Or if it was some awful kind of mirth?

Well, no, I lost my way in life
And I looked for it like you
Though I know its off the beaten track
I still searched, as do so few.

And you cattle was food
You people left me nothing more
though its easier to name me "devil"
And claim I'm after something more.

Yes, I knew you'd hunt me down,
Send out trapper after trapper
Set all your steel traps out
In hopes of tacking up my fur.

And still I fought you
In the one way I knew how—
Pulling up your traps
And feeding off your cows.

I watched you send them out;
I tricked wolfer after wolfer
And I sliced through their ploys—
Every one I'd deter.

But then, One was different,
A quiet, sharp-eyed man,
Who examined my diggings,
And apparently hatched a plan

The trap was badly hidden;
The trapper, a hopeless case
I'd gladly dig it up
Show how badly he'd helped his race.

But steel jaws clamped my foot,
And as I struggled, I met another one,
As much as I fought ans gnashed,
I knew I'd met the gun.

I still pulled out the traps
And ran dragging them behind,
And even as I fled him,
I knew how easy I'd be to find.

The quiet, sharp-eyed man found me
I was cornered, could no longer fly;
We stared at one another
Both knowing that Id die.

But, then, he was a strange man,
And . . . just maybe . . . he'd help;
And I'd nothing to loose
My voice ready for death's yelp.

I stepped forward
Knowing that he's won;
His sharp eyes widened
Then he raised the gun . . . .

. . .
NOTE: Unnerved by the approaching wolf, Bill Cody shot Rags twice through the heart. The spirited old wolf continued his advance and died at the toe of his killer's boot. Cody immediately regretted it. How than, can we say the west was won, not lost?