Two verses-daring and werewolves?

These two poems were actually intended to be part of my last post but it was getting way too long, so I held them back for a follow-on. They do share an inspiration with the theme of daring to be different and to reach for the stars, though. One a bit less perhaps but it has links to my recent immersion in the Iditarod. I'm having a bit of withdrawal there since the race is over down to the final awards and sending everyone home from Nome but that's okay. More on that as it becomes relevant.  Anyway here are the verses... Both copyright protected as of March 2014, the date of their composition, as are all contents of this blog.. Any copies of any material are to be made with permission only!

          Prayer for Courage

Dare to be different, dare to exceed

Limits you self-set and too quickly heed.

Dare to reach higher, to try one more time

Dare to take chances and risk all to climb.

Challenge your weakness and build ‘til you’re strong.

Take that strange road that seems hidden and long.

Lift up your head, your heart and your pride

For the worst that can happen is after you’ve died

You realize your doubts, your shyness and fears

Held you back, kept you down all through your years.

So give it your best shot, be bold, strive and dare

To fly to the far peaks on a wing and a prayer.

                                                   GMW 3/14

            Mystery Memory

Have I run through a long, cold night?

Fought my fear of the swirling white?

Heard the shush and crunch of snow,

Felt the bite when the storm winds blow?

Though I cannot know, my spirit claims

Many and varied lifetimes and names,

Most of them spent in desert climes

But other places at other times

Perhaps have seen and challenged me,

Brought me down or set me free.

So as this long day slips nearer night,

Spirit-feet recall the cold, the white.

Once in a dream-night I ran with a pack,

Howled and ran, never looking back.

So was that a memory or merely a dream?

I can only trust in how real it did seem.
                                      GMW 3/14

I do have an affinity for wolves and they are mostly creatures of the more northern climes. Who knows. Yes, there are the so-called Mexican Gray Wolves down along the border here and of course their kin the coyotes, but I have dreamed of running over the snow and such, more than once actually.  I was never sure if that running was on two feet or four... Maybe I was a northern were-wolf in some incarnation! Smiling but not laughing as to me at least it is no joke.