To a Literate Coyote

"If you notice anything it leads you to notice more and more."

- Mary Oliver

"Dammit!"

-Janell

An Open Letter to a Coyote who has internet access, reads, writes, etc.:

Neither Bella nor I are smart enough to avoid the path with which you poop.  Don't get me wrong. We will avoid stepping in your poop because you make it so obvious, however, we're not translating the sign of your poop as THE STOP SIGN. Besides, Bella likes to sniff poop. Your poop makes her day. No one ever said that to me so I'd take the statement as a compliment. In fact, if I had not pulled Bella away from your pile with a very stern (a-hahahaha) "leave it!" (loosely translated to muhmehmahbleh inside Bella's pointy head) she probably would have gobbled it up like that free sample at See's. (No offense, See's. That means it's really good stuff.)


The idea of your presence is a marvel to me, yet still scary like waiting to see if the doctor is going to say your cancer has returned. Since I had cancer once, I know what that kind of fear is like. I live it daily when and if I remember to think about it but I usually don't think about it because I'm busy avoiding piles of poo. Bella and I refuse to live our lives as if you might eat one of us for a snack (and at this point, I'm definitely thin enough to be considered snack-worthy.) We refuse to live our lives as if the return of cancer is a given. We're going to trod where others refuse to (or even know how to) trod whether or not we are welcome, and as long as there is no NO trespassing sign posted because I really hate to trespass when there's a legit sign (as opposed to a poo sign).


We have places to go, people to meet and trails to trek. As long as Bella and I have the ability to cavort through the forest, your poop will not rain on our parade or stick in our paws. We refuse (and I take the liberty to speak for Bella at this point) to be fearful of everyday things (like cars, kites and diesel engines, barking dogs or dogs with huge, thick, brick-shaped heads or their look-a-like owners, brooms, vacuums and inexplicable noises that come from household appliances even if those appliances are supposedly considered discreet) -- for the same reason (and I am going out on a limb here) that you cannot show your fear of us (a lot of crying and howling noises for starters). We won't avoid our walks because you might show up (in one way or another - nice try with the poop!).  We will step around your poop or kick it to the side after it's dry. We will avoid your cancer-y-like ways. You are tricky though since I'm also a trickster, I'm watching you as much as you're watching us - only in actuality, I've really only seen you once (in the past week) though I've now seen your poop twice -- so pretty much I'm only watching your poop and (ever so slightly) concerned with why you keep making your poop obvious (though I know from what I read on the internet it's so we can take the hint and stay away from your trail). 


How would you like it if I left a big pile where you walk, huh? 


Somehow, someway we have to maintain a balance between safety and risk just so we can get out of bed in the morning. We can't live our lives as if our next step is going to feel spongy underfoot. 


Then again, maybe this topic is too deep for you. (Or maybe you didn't pay your online access bill this month). (Who knows!?) (I can't even believe I'm writing a blog post about a coyote pooping.)


We may seem fool-hearty, somewhat careless to others, clueless for walking where you hunt and live; so few undisturbed options for you. It is said (someplace I read on the internet) that if a coyote enters your life, you need to look at things you've been avoiding. Well, we've been avoiding you, Coyote and when we can't avoid you because you poop right smack in the middle of the pathway, we can kick your sh*t to the side and keep on walking. Even though we can't see you because you are cunning (like cancer!), if Bella gets close enough to smell your poop pile, we will continue to act as if you don't exist (with a hearty, convincing leave it command along with a pull on the harness and if that does not work, I'll pick her up and carry her away) otherwise, we'd be living in fear, frightened out of our wits, afraid to move in the world because we don't always take the time to notice the mess beneath our feet.

image courtesy of radioparadise.com

"Coyote is a complex symbol of humor, cunning, and survival. Coyote is often portrayed as the 'wise fool', helping people to see the truth in difficult situations. Coyote medicine is often strongly tied to learning to be adaptable, seeing the humor in even the worst situations, and being able to cope with even the toughest things life can throw at you."

(Foxfeather)