The rain comes down in sheets.
Beneath a sooty
Rooftop a howl echoes.
It’s meant for me.
I stand on the flat roof
Looking at lamp lit streets below,
Fear pours into my belly,
Like an icy stream from the mountains.
My hands shake
Under my wet cloak.
I pour my powder into my Wheelock pistols,
Leaning my readied rifle on my knee,
Like a centurion preparing for war.
How I wish I had a friend.
A woman’s scream sounds in the distance,
Not long now,
I tamp a wad and silver pellet,
Fasten my Wheelock pistols at either side,
Raising my rifle, cocking the hammer I wait,
A rock dove skitters in flight as I aim
In its direction,
The sniffing of an animal rises from
The alley below,
My hand shakes,
A howl cuts through the air,
Slicing through my nerves,
The rifle slips,
A thunderous reply answers the beast,
I curse,
My ears ring,
Pulling at my pistols I cock them and wait,
I say a silent prayer
Aiming my pistols
At the door,
A beam securely acrossed it in the rain,
I smell him before I see him,
Musky wet dog,
The beam snaps at the first blow,
A wet snarl snaps at me
From behind the splintered frame,
Wood showers at me,
A giant wolf at me leaps,
The crack of the first shot splits the air,
The beast yelps,
Leaping into my chest,
I land hard,
Sucking for air and getting none,
I am a man smothering in thick wet darkness,
Snapping teeth and claws search for me,
My hand is twisted on itself,
I can’t feel it,
The second shot goes off,
The ringing is now very loud,
The weight of the beast lifts off of me,
I reach out like a drowning man for shore,
A sharp pain shoots in my arm,
I feel the pop,
When something heavy lands on it,
I turn and look upon my fate,
Instead before my wild eyes,
Like ice, the beast melts into
Form of a young man,
With my foot I roll him over,
A gathering pool of crimson surrounds us both,
My shirt is warm
A metallic tang fills my nose,
He coughs and spits red,
I hold his hand with my good hand,
He tries to speak,
His eyes are blinded by rain,
Mine with fever,
In a picture in my mind,
Long ago,
I see a young boy, like him,
And happier me,
We laugh,
The sun shines,
I kick at the leaves beneath my feet,
The sun is bright on our faces,
I tossle his hair,
The rain is heavy,
He doesn’t see my tears,
He squeezes my hand,
He cries out and lets go,
My boy, my boy,
My dear sweet boy.
