The Lone Coyote

A metaphoric poem about the journey of life.

In the desert was a coyote
Wandering, he hoped to find
Food to eat or shelter from the heat
Or a subtle peace of mind

Ragged he wandered the mesa
Hungry, he chased the sun
Through rain and sleet and tumbleweeds
Hoping for deliverance to come

Once or twice, he came upon another pack
But he’d spent too much time alone
They called him kin but he didn’t quite fit in
And left them to fates unknown

Like a vagrant warily he ventured
Never one to bear a heavy load
By rocks and crags and discarded plastic bags
Never found himself a warm abode

One hot day he came upon a rattlesnake
Stumbled as he heard that rattle hum
That poison kiss, bite so venomous
He kicked up dust and went on the run

In the desert of northern New Mexico
The lone coyote looked up at the sky
Both near and far, he gazed upon the stars
And then he bawled a mighty lupine cry

Then one day he reached the Colorado
Bowed his head and drank the river’s gift
Through joy and pain and a fortnight without rain
Thankful for the days that he had left