coyotes from the outer darkness
tonight
came to the perimeter
their piercing
infantile voices
from out beyond the fence line
Argos and Willow are so indignant
they have become partly divine
Willow is in her first youth
watching Argos though
i saw the years fall away
the old man wanted to tear down the whole forest
with his teeth
and he would have
if the coyotes hadn't
suddenly gone quiet
which was also
a goddamn unforgivable
slap in the face
the moon was not kidding around either
the glow got down into
their shaggy white fur
until crisscrossing the forest
they themselves were shining
like burning spirits
which of course they are
we walked back to the farmhouse together
I loved it
but you know
coyote-song is hard to shake
it's a cold shot
and the dogs will grumble all night
as well they should
because
fucking coyotes
