A night in the Ozarks atop Lightning Mountain. --Susan*

Into the abyss of midnight the howls intensify The wild night is calling as dozens of coyotes cry The family of a tribal Prince who glorifies this mountain His thirst for penetrating wisdom drinks from midnight's fountain He sniffs the air for strangers as his den surrounds his play He is worshipped for his wisdom and respected for his ways He knows to win in battle he must take the lead Enforce the tribal policy or they will not succeed He knows that their survival hinges on his oaths He focuses on the victory not of his victims boasts Into the next generation his sons will live to lead Then theirs will follow later to keep the family free Such is the life of a Prince the creature of these woods Not much different from the man who seems misunderstood Leaders come in two legs or four depending how They take their oath to howl or pledge a whispered vow The head of creatures ...animal, and those of all free men Can fight for freedom in the woods or for all the promised lands  As I lay in my bed and look out into the night I'll understand the Prince who howls and the Valored one who fights.