Coyote Poems

Lizard sculpture on my fence. Not a recent photograph.

Coyotes have invaded my neighborhood! I knew they were here, but a neighbor who installed security cameras had to show me the video documenting their presence. Another neighbor who has several cats has lost more than one. He and I agreed that they were the likely culprits. He is now keeping his cats indoors.

Here are two poems about coyotes. The first one appeared in my book, It’s Just a Phase.

Coyote Land 

Go down to the raging waterfall.
Where even the full moon cannot pierce
the darkness that gathers under pines.

Sit beside the fire as embers die.
Sleep despite the noise of owls,
their cackling calls like monkeys.

That’s when coyotes come,
ears alert to any threat.
Soft feet make no sound.

Fathered by a wild dog,
grandson of a she-wolf,
he’s not like Western kin,

Far from desert lands
silent forest creature stalks
within a foot of fires and tents.

He wakes you with manic laughter
of souls condemned to echo
in the calls of loons.

The second one is from the book I am currently writing.

XXI

Years ago, before I moved to the city where I now reside,
I worked at a facility with numerous live animal exhibits.
On one occasion, a visitor confronted me near the Coyote Exhibit. 
“Those coyotes are mating, and the people can see them.
That is not good.” I suppose I let my total disregard
For puritanical opinions show through when I offered 
To open the gate and let him enter the exhibit and 
Try to stop the coyotes from mating. He declined.