Latrans

by Nicholas Barnes

i saw a coyote tonight
near the corner store

wearing iridescent fur shrouded
in neon and howling sirens

prowling from the industrial zone
to the eldritch warehouse

he left carnage in his wake
six cruisers and an ambulance

i still wonder if he was the culprit
those eyes surely held secrets

soft smoky satellites
sparkling like icy fog lines

a crucifix silhouetted
by silent chapel bells

dodging the cars
and red lights along the way

spreading the word
this is a forest after all

i pet golden charlie at dusk
now i see silver jackals at night

one lone kaɪˈoʊt stares back
we wonder why there are wild dogs

send him love not stones
the hound can always visit

because he let a rabbit run
on an empty stomach

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Nicholas Barnes earned a Bachelor of Arts in English at Southern Oregon University. He is currently working as an editor in Portland, and enjoys music, museums, movie theaters, and rain. His poems have recently been accepted by Barzakh, Bridge: The Bluffton University Literary Journal, Something Involving A Mailbox!, and BEATIFIC.