coyote poem

a prologue to 'coyote poem'
to be posted
at all meetings
once the photocopying
budget is approved (action item)

first allegiance
eat
second allegiance
more coyote
third allegiance
chorale practice
fourth allegiance
raven
fifth allegiance
limelight
(hint: coyote likes life
stuffed with
cottontails.)


preface to the coyote poem as requested by coyote

a past reference in
verse
that fails
utterly


“Road Runner, the coyote's after you.
Road Runner, if he catches you you're through.”

That coyote is really a crazy clown,
When will he learn he can never mow him down?
Poor little Road Runner never bothers anyone,
Just runnin' down the road's his idea of having fun.

“this song, if you call it such,”
said coyote,
one eye watching the
ticker tape,
waiting for a ship
to come in,
“wants for intelligent rhymes,
a meter that doesnt feel
like the kind of wagon an
okie would build
just to get drunk in
and crash,” said coyote.
(coyote laughing)
coyote
said, “this ditty
shows a real lack
of knowledge.”

coyote said,
“i hate this song. ugggh.
it make me want to scream.”

coyote wears glasses that
make everything
move
and says
“pop music, pope music, poop music.”

coyote likes to listen -
the nuthatches and monk
trade licks.
its also true
coyote
is sometimes so lonesome -

yes, coyote cries.

coyote impersonates
smokey r.,
spins on his
heel – winks.
wags his well-groomed
tail
coyote says, “really,
i'm sad.”



and now, coyote poem, proper

1
coyote
on the question of
where to dig one's den
said, “i fall
strongly
into the category of them
who say
if its draws you,
follow -
like the earth follows
the sun...”

coyote said
“dig your den
at home” and
then
coyote had to
run.


2
after dark,
when its only
headlights and
taillights and
those bright yellow
eyes

coyote,
puzzled,
head tilted,
tongue out
- “why do you
kill all those
rabbits?”

coyote
looked over and
said
“your freeways are
why she dont love
you
anymore.”

“and that,” said
coyote, “ain't
all.”



3
coyote on edge,
distracted,
looking over shoulder,
looking back, “can't you
think of something
good to say?”




4
coyote pissing
on the vinyl siding, cold fall
night, steam rising,
owl screeching
said, “there's enough in the
grocery store to last
me 300 years -
once you guys are
out of the
way.”


5
coyote's wet tongue,
licking - “wake up,
wake up -
i was only
joking,”

coyote kind of worried,
kind of
sorry –
cant stop laughing.
“oh brother,” coyote
said, “i didnt
really mean
shoot
yourself.”


6
coyote under the stars
asked, “who doesn't
like old cheese? - who
doesn't want
a few extra
mice in the cupboard?”

meteors shooting
from the back of
coyote's head and
coyote said,
“ssshh! these new jokes
are sleeping.”