My little boy is now pacing the earth

immersed in darkness 

training for the

worst.

My tender son, the mild one –little prince

sheltered from the vulgar world

in the precious ark

forever floating

                        on a perpetual flood

The child I didn’t read Red Riding Hood to

so as not to alarm him

 with slashed bellies

 and blood --

is now cutting his way through the thicket

crawling on all four

learning  to be

a wolf.