[aggressive]

we, coyotes sitting on a mountain top
                                                             up
haunches taught, ready to spring
into the embrace of a summer moon
up and up, yelping into infinity, until we fall
stomachs full of stone, gristle and bone, feeling
a wintry hunger, unsatisfied by starlight
tumbling, paws scrambling on dirt
claws seeking purchase on earth, caught
between heaven and earth, we are caught between
heaven and earth, knowing
god’s mirth will not keep us warm, it is only
the thick of our skins and the stubborn lock of our jaws
tooth on flesh, discovering the world
with mouths and wet noses, we touch
nose to nose, we touch
body warmth becomes divinity
a playful lick – infinite meaning to our wandering
selves, finding bliss as we
pass into sleep together, a heap
of fur and breath and
peace

[passive]

we,  coyotes, meek within the valley
cries pining up to a sickening moon
even when night fades
and the sun creeps
to its rightful place
we cannot see
who sleeps beside us