In his essay Nazi Psychology Kunkel speaks of the symbolism of the wolf in Nazism. Hitler was fascinated by the creatures - Adolf even means 'noble or majestic wolf'. I was in the Netherlands last year and a news story when I was there was the literal threat of wolves down the road - there has been a marked return of wolf packs in the country after a 150-year absence. This fact, along with Kunkel's essay, inspired this poem - Wolfsschanze (which means 'Wolf's Lair' which was Hitler's first Eastern Front military headquarters in World War 11.) Wolfsschanze
The wolves have returned to Europe
Stirred after a long sleep
Blinked into the sun
Rose up as one to run and run
Through rain, snow, storm and flood
Towards familiar homelands
To roam in packs
Stay hidden
Wait
Watch
Attack
Retreat
Sleep
Leap
Howl and howl
Keep together
Safety in numbers
Safety in kind
The wolves have returned to Europe in full force
Oh Fatherland, Motherlands
Weep now
The ancient powers are reviving
Many barely survive
Others are rich beyond measure
It matters not
Young and old
Vulnerable or powerful
The wolves circle and circle
Sharp-eyed, sure-footed
But little flock
Fear not
Fear not
Though the wolf lairs are teeming
And a fierce wind blows
What do the fluttering birds chirp?
Fear not
Fear not
Little flock
Your Shepherd will not leave
He knows the chief wolf well
Sacrifice and Victory
Are his rod and staff
He knows both the war-torn way
And the path home
As the wolves settle in under European skies
The shroud of unknowing hangs low
But so does the mercy-mist of each new morning
Fear not
Little flock
Fear not
By Sarah Larkin, October 2024.
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