“The Wolf You Might Have Been”

By Tomas Baiza

You were raised by wolves to live with dogs.

Taught to look down, bow your head,

to never bare your teeth, lest you be labeled 

off-putting, combative, intimidating.

To pass—because isn’t that always the point?—

you must accept the collar, submit to the ritual grooming, 

meekly absorb those things called ‘constructive criticisms,’

and never, ever tell The Truth, lest you be labeled

uppity, contrary, menacing.

To survive in a kennel where instincts are dulled,

howls are muted, and tails must always be wagged

in performative appreciation for the slop heaped on your tray

instead of the sweeter meat you would have fought for. 

If you were still a wolf.

You dare to ask the stupidest question of all: May I not still be one of you?

Don’t be silly, they say. We were wolves so that you wouldn’t have to be. We gave you a leg up,

moved to the suburbs, let them teach you English, sent you to Catholic school to memorize the

declensions. 

We have given you what the dogs said was too good for us. You will make us proud in your

transformation. 

Proud and not a little sad,

for the wolf you might have been.

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Tomas Baiza is originally from San José, California, and now lives in Boise, Idaho. He is a Pushcart-nominated author whose short fiction and poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in Parhelion, Writers In The Attic, Obelus, In Parentheses, Meniscus, [PANK] Magazine, 101 Proof Horror, The Meadow, Peatsmoke, The Good Life Review, Kelp, Black Lawrence Press, Bacopa Literary Review, and elsewhere. Tomas's first novel, Deliver Me: A Pocho's Accidental Guide to College, Love, and Pizza Delivery, and his short-fiction collection, A Purpose To Our Savagery: Stories and