Rewilding?

A new poem - written Wednesday evening.

This Night

The Katydids keep me company 
as I gaze up past colorless trees. 
Clouds have extinguished all of heaven's lights. 
A few days past the full moon, 
I contemplate the lives that cross
on the trails beyond my yard 
and those that pass no more. 
My neighbor sees ghosts of 
Confederate soldiers. I'm sure
there are plenty but I see none. 
Some nights I see coyotes and deer 
in the car's headlamps.
Raccoons visit to rob the birdseed. 
Woodchucks tend to the gardens. 
I see foxes now and then. 
Bears are rare and doomed, 
shot when they can't
leave the garbage cans alone. 
Bobcats  are rare and cougars
a topic of hot debate. 
"They aren't here." 
"I saw one a few weeks ago,
and my hair stood straight up."
Red Wolves only appear in cages.
But the Pileated Woodpeckers 
rule the day with their tropical calls. 
the other night I heard the Barred Owl 
inquire "Who cooks for you?"
As for me, I live a tame life here
and get chastised when I walk to work. 
"There are homeless people in those woods 
and other dangers too. We are just concerned. 
We worry about you. As old as you are
a bad fall could do you in."
But even the wind in the oaks 
is a song to my wild heart. 
Some nights I remember my younger days. 
I look up at the moon and howl.