Harry the Steppenwolf

Herr Herrman Hesse has described this phenomenon best
In his wonderful novel about wolf and man,
and how a soul has a thousand faces at rest
waiting, to be freed, or at least, a chance to breath again.
Harry, a learned man, was besought by a troubling beast.
A wolf, perhaps from Russia or the Steppes at least.

Harry was fifty and lived in a boarding house
he loved Mozart and Goethe, and a drink or two.
Living there and mostly quiet as a mouse,
Searching his tomes for deliverance too.
The wolf in Harry was the animal of life
which he fought daily with spiritual strife.

For he knew well of his permanent condition
When the Steppenwolf came out to view the meaningless
However, Harry received a pamphlet, a new definition
And had to rethink his things, including his purpose.
He decided, to end his own life by a razor's blade
And into the Black Eagle Inn, his way made.

There he met, Hermine, who discouraged him from this
She knew all about him, in a seemingly occult-like way
He would learn the foxtrot, the boston, and perhaps kiss
her and love her and forget about, the wolf at bay.
Harry was most completely now, under, Hermine's spell.
They would meet many times, and dance, at the ball, in hell.