it was a tough weekend
a memorial for a friend and later
i was sick
with a foul intestinal scourge
so for four days i had no walk
also
i'm tutoring a student after school
but today i set out
in late october sunshine
after last night's hard frost
22 degrees at 7 am.
today was my third encounter with this
small one
i become disconcerted when it walked straight towards me: bold!
eyes on me
on the roadside
what's up, little one?
i side stepped, and asked
why are you risking yourself
you who are called varmint?
why come out to the roadside
just to savor the new growth,
succulent though it is
when hunters are out with guns everywhere?
the response was uncanny,
but i know i was heard
and i know that this one decided to go back
across to the north side of the road
and into the thicket
gray dogwood and poplars
as i marveled at those amazing feet,
turning in toes, long, strong, and clever.
it was a walk in the crisp
colorful and cidery cold afternoon
and along the road,
here and there
coyote scat.
just to remind me there are jokes
i don't understand.