Coyotes Though controversial for some Adversarial herbivores Being from where coyotes come Smiling cousins of mine and yours Seeing their eyes at night so bright I see coyotes are alright With me and they and I agree To meet and greet us howlingly Not one who howls but one who tries Coyotes do not criticize Taking delight waking the night Is fun for cunning carnivores Running along the wash tonight Their eyes like sparks of the starlight Are all we see the dogs and me Their canine solidarity Under the overarching sky Awakens mine if humanly Under the Milky Way up high Soaring over Joshua Tree Seeing us being who we are We realize to our surprise We understand one another Between us being not too far To wonder about each other Understanding us otherwise By seeing out through other eyes Now seeing coyotes like me I like them how they seem to be Emblematic of being free Seeing coyotes I somehow Am a more human being now Steven Curtis Lance   with thanks and love to Franziska for her illustration