Alive

cancer, the lean wolf, white fanged

yellow eyes

fear, inside-my-bones fear

as it rushed me

right now

cancer is the best hunter, teeth in flesh, the wound spurting sunlight

it chewed, dragged me, chewed; stopped, raised its head, turned and left me

dazzled

the wolf, head low,

trotting away on the ridge

down here, dry, dull tundra

for now