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The Cherokee Legend of the Wolves




THE CHEROKEE LEGEND OF THE WOLVES

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 the wolf that you feed.

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Shared as a poem of choice for my very first night hosting DVerse Poets!

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©2014 Christopher Reilley 

I would love to know what you thought about this piece. 
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  1. brudbergAugust 30, 2022 at 3:12 PM

    I really love the conclusion of this poem, giving us the power to choose what is good. You always hope for comeuppance in life for those siding with their evil side. Maybe that's why we had to invent afterlife to hand out rewards for those who made the right choice.

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  2. GraceAugust 30, 2022 at 3:14 PM

    I admire this line: We are both the prize and the source of the war. Also the conclusion: the winner is the wolf that you feed. I can feel that battle everyday but as I get older, the choice to do good and to do better gets stronger now. And also, it is good that we have these choices, so that we choose our path, we do so with passion and action. Thanks for hosting Chris!

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  3. Kim M. RussellAugust 30, 2022 at 3:20 PM

    Thank you for hosting, Christopher, and for sharing this amazing poem. I used to be enthralled by all things Native American, but over the years my interest has waned a bit. I’m glad you whetted my appetite again. If only we all had a Cherokee grandfather to share his wisdom.

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  4. Mary HoodAugust 30, 2022 at 3:59 PM

    I never heard the whole story, only the ending. Thank you. Yes, I believe there are two choices, life and death. We need to choose life. Oh it is not always easy!! I may choose to Not post this time.

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  5. rogblog666August 30, 2022 at 4:11 PM

    i have heard this in many formats. have always agreed with its sentimentthanks for sharing here. great job hosting.

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  6. Gillena CoxAugust 30, 2022 at 4:37 PM

    Luv the rhymes. The message and the conclusion. Wonderful telling

    Much💖love

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  7. NitinAugust 30, 2022 at 5:49 PM

    A lot of wisdom in this. I like the yin and yang within us, and the ending is very very true.

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  8. robkistnerAugust 30, 2022 at 10:02 PM

    Oh hell yes Chris, and that battle rages even to your dying day. And ultimately, you never truly know if you chose right — and it makes no difference, as long as you chose honestly.

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  9. Dwight L. RothAugust 30, 2022 at 10:52 PM

    This is a great poem, full of wisdom. We are often our own worst enemy!

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  10. Reena SaxenaAugust 31, 2022 at 5:23 AM

    I second Grace. The best line is 'You are both the prize and the source of war.

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  11. DoraAugust 31, 2022 at 2:09 PM

    I enjoyed the elements of fable and proverb captured in rhyme, also the poetic frame of the old man and the boy sets it up nicely. Two wolves there are/I think I know . . . .

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  12. JimAugust 31, 2022 at 4:17 PM

    That's the way cats are, the person they obey and love most is the one who feeds them. This was a nice to read fable/folk story. Thank you.
    ..

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  13. HelenAugust 31, 2022 at 4:22 PM

    After the horror that happened in Bend on Sunday evening .... your poetry resonated more deeply than I could ever have imagined.

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  14. Tanmay Thomas PhilipSeptember 1, 2022 at 12:36 AM

    I love the image of good vs evil in this, personified by the wolves, and you delivered the story through this poem extremely well.

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  15. paeansunpluggedSeptember 1, 2022 at 1:25 PM

    The wolf we feed...Your story telling skills through verse are par excellence, Christopher! Thanks for the prompt.

    (I did correct the rhyming you pointed out)

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  16. JadeLiSeptember 1, 2022 at 4:59 PM

    It's a worthy myth. Unfortunately some wolves know how to go out and hunt on their own, despite our best efforts...

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  17. AliSeptember 1, 2022 at 5:59 PM

    Yes, I remember this tale and it is worth resharing. We have choice in the wolf we feed. It is an empowering reminder.

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  18. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2022 at 6:53 PM

    I can see this as a parable for the schoolroom. There are so may ways it could be approached to trigger discussion and learning.

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  19. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2022 at 6:53 PM

    seanatbogie

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  20. purplepeninportland.comSeptember 4, 2022 at 8:47 PM

    "We are both the prize and the source of the war."
    Great line, and wonderful legend!

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