Counting with wolves

I’m tossing and turning
and I’m wide awake.
I’ve been counting sheep
like lost pennies
but I can’t sleep.

I keep counting
and
counting
and it’s starting to sound
like a wolf howling.
if I listen closely
I can hear the pain in his voice.

he comes for me
when I count sheep.
he howls to remind me
that he’s always been there
counting right along with me.
I guess this is better than counting alone
but the sound of his voice
always keeps me awake.