The Cherokee Legend of the Wolves

[Reilley]

There is a story told among the Cherokee

A grandfather relates to his grandson

Of the battle that happens inside of you and me

And the way in which it can be won.



Two wolves are fighting inside us all

And they fight until they can fight no more.

To the battle we are all held in thrall

We are both the prize and the source of the war.



The first is Evil, made from anger and greed,

Plus sorrow, regret, arrogance and false pride

With ego and self pity, resentment and need

And all of the foolishness man has inside.



The second is Good, it is joy, faith and love

Hope, humility, kindness and peace.

It is benevolence, serenity, the gifts from above

The humility to cherish the least.



But which wolf wins, the boys asks the man

Which one will ultimately succeed?

The choice is yours, if you do what you can

The winner is wolf that you feed.

[Brigid Briton]

Hiya Reilley,

Thanks for sharing this old legend with us in verse. Very clever.

Every morning, as I feed my cats, I am trying to remember to feed the Good Wolf too. In fact, I think I'll put an extra and empty plate down, just as sort of a Good Wolf ceremony, to set the tone for the day.