In These Pastures...

In these pastures
there are sheep
there are shepherds
and wolves that creep


The sheep grow weary of their guards
but without them would be torn to shards
for mouths of wolves are always near
in these very pastures here


The shepherds grow weary of the sheep
and the wolves that never let them sleep
but need both in a complex way
to keep from passing like each day


The wolves grow weary of the help
and in nights anguish they will yelp
howling hungers kept by fear
preserved within these pastures here


The shepherds cannot become sheep
they know too well of what might creep
and every leader feigning to follow
learns the depths of feeling hollow


The sheep could never come to be
as the shepherds that they see
for eyes in grazing fall too low
and allow a frenzied horror show


The wolves could never take new places
for no disguise can hide their faces
and wolves prefer to cause the fear
in these very pastures here