Why Wolves Howl

Between a sentinel of trees, in the deepest of twilight an image lurks down moon lit path. A chill in the air ruffles thick fur. He is alone. Each step leaves paw prints in the dirt as evidence of his presence, under a dangling moon. He finds a knoll. There he sits waiting as time ticks slowly by until the moon, a blood moon, ascends to its highest point in the autumn sky.

When no one listens,
howling wolf calls to another,
as blood moon rises.

Cease listening to instruction, my son,

And you will stray from the words of knowledge.”

Proverbs 19:27
https://dversepoets.com/2020/09/28/haibun-monday-9-28-20-to-the-moon/
It is a myth that wolves howl at a full moon. They howl to communicate at anytime. It is thought people noticed their howling more during a full moon, because extra light brings people out at nighttime. We do a lot of howling in our house even on moonless nights!

22 Comments

  1. Dora says:

    I’ve tried howling with our wolves, sorry, dogs, and they just look at me sadly and try to comfort me, lol.

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    1. wolfsrosebud says:

      Maybe you’re howling sad words😂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dora says:

        Undoubtedly 😅

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  2. I would love to hear that howling.

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  3. Helen Dehner says:

    Love the connection between wolves howling and the full moon …..

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  4. robtkistner says:

    “ When no one listens,
    howling wolf calls to another,
    as blood moon rises.”

    Strong but chilling…. fabulous picture! 🙂

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  5. lynn__ says:

    Wolves are fascinating creatures…I like the myth that they howl at the moon. We had a dog that howled when my husband sang to her 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  6. oldegg says:

    I always feel that I don’t belong when wild animals especially wolves, foxes and even dogs howl at the moon. It is as if they know a secret that I don’t. This is an enjoyable read.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. wolfsrosebud says:

      I understand. Howling is a stress reliever. That is what I’ve come to realize. 😬

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  7. You’ve pained a sonorous picture of something I would move to witness. The idea gives me goosebumps.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. kim881 says:

    I’ve had a soft spot for wolves since one licked me on the leg through a fence on a school trip to London Zoo when I was a child. I love wolf stories and poems and follow a couple of wolf pages on Facebook. You’ve painted a gorgeous picture of a moon howl, Patricia, that appeals to the senses. I felt the hair stand up on my arms as I read. Sadly, there are no wolves in the wilds of England, so I only get to see and hear them in documentaries.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. wolfsrosebud says:

      We have them in the wild places of Wisconsin. In our travels, with the grandkids , we cross the Wolf River and howl like pups seeking their mama. Obviously, with a last name of Wolf it’s our responsibility to howl. 😂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Ingrid says:

    A wise post: my dog recently started howling in response to a Husky living down the road. I’d never heard him howl before, full moon or no full moon: communication is at the centre of our worlds.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. wolfsrosebud says:

      Our golden retriever did the same… it was kinda cool to listen to.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. calmkate says:

    I was there with you … and you howl at your place, hmmmm 🙂

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  11. Suzanne says:

    I really enjoyed your haibun. I always thought wolves howl at the moon. I had no idea it was the way they communicate to each other. How fascinating.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. msjadeli says:

    You took me there, to that place. Magical!

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  13. sanaarizvi says:

    This resonates deeply! ❤️ Yes, the wolves howling is a direct way of communicating across long distances. 🙂 I smiled at the last sentence of the process note.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. wolfsrosebud says:

      The grandkids and I love to howl

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  14. Lucy says:

    This is so beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. An evocative write! Brava!

    Liked by 1 person

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