Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE PACK'S LAST HUNT, by JR. HART IRVING H.



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PACK'S LAST HUNT, by                    
First Line: No, boy, I haven't had a pack or run
Last Line: "seems like I have damn rotten luck with dogs."
Subject(s): Animals; Dogs; Hunting; Hunters


"No, boy, I haven't had a pack or run
Behind them since that time you last were here;
Seems like I have damn rotten luck with dogs."
Alse paused to fill my glass with foaming beer
And switched the talk. I saw the memory
Of that last chase still angered, sorrowed him.
I was content to speak of daily chores;
The price of wool and mohair; how his traps
Had run; and yet, when he had gone to pen
His goats and fold his sheep for night, I found
Myself back once again behind the pack.

That night, three years ago, it rained like hell
Till almost midnight. I awoke to see
Alse standing by my bed, his light in hand.
"Rain's stopped," he said. "You want to make a run?"
Spot heard, or sensed his meaning, whined and bayed.
"Sure thing," I answered, pulling on my clothes
While Alse went out to gather up the dogs.
The sky had cleared, almost, but now and then
A stringy cotton cloud would veil the moon.
The wind was sweet with dampness and the scent
Of rain-washed leaves and freshened pasturage.
Far off a coyote yapped, the pack replied,
Straining and lunging at the leash -- Old Bob,
Young Red, Spot, Rowdy, Fanny-bitch and Queen.
Down through the little trap we held them in,
Then at the outer gate we set them free.
"We might as well set here," Alse said, "Down wind,
Until they hit a trail.... Old Clubfoot's back;
I seen his track this morning by a kill.
Sure like to get that devil. That makes five
Spring kids he's left his mark on. -- Listen! Bob!"
Old Bob was speaking, low and hoarse. "Cold trail?"
I asked. "Cold trails are all washed out," Alse said.
Then Queen joined in, a softer, higher voice,
Calling the pack; then all were in full tongue.
Down through Mac's canyon, up the farther rim,
Then circling, heading south toward Cetzer's Creek.
We ran that way. Wet brush slapped soggily
At face and hands. Sharp Agua Rita leaves
Raked Duckin suits. Loose rocks -- a headlong sprawl --
Then up again, after the lantern flash
Denoting Alse. Panting, we slid to stop
On top a cliff while far below the dogs
Whimpered and splashed to find the cross-creek trail.
This time the raucous Rowdy led off first;
Then Queen's soft tongue, and then the pack joined in.
Slipping and stumbling, using crag and bush,
We dropped to stream-bed, forded, scaled a bank.
Alse touched my arm. "Damn Cat is circling wide...
Yeah, now northeast toward Hale's; we'll lose it sure."
Yet on we ran, the pack, full-tongued, ahead.
"Spot's out, "Alse said abruptly, "Young Red, too....
Here's Queen come back, and Fanny-bitch! Old Bob
And Rowdy quiet, too; now, what the hell?" --
His horn was out. "Toot, toot. To-to-to-toooot."
Again the horn; again the echo answer.
Again and yet again while Fanny, Queen,
Wriggled and whined, as puzzled as the rest
Of us until at last Alse hunkered down
To soothe them. Then he said, "I know what's wrong.
They picked up poison pellets on the trail.
I didn't think Old Hale had laid it yet.
It's set against the law because he can't
Drop it each night and take it up at dawn
A hundred miles away. The dirty crook -- "
"Can't we go find'em, Alse?" I asked. "We might --"
"Too late -- they're all tied up in knots or else
Run crazy through the brush. No, not a chance --
And anyway -- I just don't want to see
My dogs, their guts on fire, crawl and die.
Now Fanny-bitch and Queen, I raised myself;
You see they wouldn't ever eat on trail ....
Snap Queen, or she'll go back to look for Spot.
Come on, we're going home."
The dusk had come
And Alse loomed in the door. I must have jumped,
Or something to betray my thoughts to him,
For he spoke low, "Yeah, I remember, too.
Sometimes it seems I hear the pack again,
Full tongue across the creek -- I know it ain't.
I guess I'm getting soft. -- That's why I don't
Get me a pack and run them any more.
Seems like I have damn rotten luck with dogs."





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