“Stretched Arms Long” (a Coyote poem)

Coyote climbed up the cliff of an evening,

hid behind a shadow of the moon,

stretched arms long,

surprised a star.

He snatched it,

pulled it from its place,

leapt back to earth, howling.

It seared

his hands, stung

his palms,

singed his fur.

He dropped it —

and the star fled home.

Tonight, Coyote climbs the cliff

of the evening

(his hands itch for blisters.)