When I was four years old my father gave me five lead racehorses

They were ridden by five lead jockeys wearing different colour silks

I still have these lead toys and they often find a place in my rucksack

When I am hunting the wolves that haunt these vast plains

 

My sister Nora often accompanies me on my hunting trips

Mainly to cook but also keep me company

Sometimes when we are low in the fields we brush dust tracks

And hold imaginary race meetings to pass the time

 

The reason is that I hunt wolves is that they threaten our existence

Our way of life is often violently interrupted by savage attacks

In the last ten years three men and a child have been killed by these wolves

I am paid for each kill and have slaughtered thirty-six of these creatures to date

 

I have never had an opportunity of an university education

My sister earned hers and spent three years in the capital city

She is wiser than me but lacks the cunning when tracking down the wolves

And I have lost the chance of certain kills due to her clumsiness

 

However my sister is beautiful and elegant in her manner

Which brightens up this obscurity of my occupation

My employer Mr Sorenson was savaged by a wolf last year

And still remains in hospital recovering from his injuries

 

The plains where I hunt the wolves are prone to hail storms

And if I am made aware of these storms I leave my sister at the base camp

Wolves are easier to kill during hail storms as the falling ice seems to hypnotise them

They are also at their most dangerous as the storms seem to heighten their sense of smell

 

My grandfather was killed by a wolf just over forty years ago

And is buried at the foot of the Bask Mountains

The mountains are a four day ride from here and the area is considered very dangerous

My sister and I no longer hold race meeting there due to the ongoing threat of trespass