1.6.15

summons

dark beckoned as we drove. in the clouds
a young girl birthed easily a hairless goat into
a coral bladder. miles markers on i startled--

two pottery statues of goats, life-sized if not
life-like grazed stilly, in a brushed front yard
surrounded by a herd of real ones. as it got
on to dark, he said watch those hills for
coyotes.

last time he said it one did soon appear briefly,
by the Classy Lady Concrete Masonry sign.
i watched the hills, alright, racing lime shadows.
all i managed to eke from the eider sand and
cacti was a border patrol jeep, hood-deep
in orange prairie weeds by a divide.

the officer had his nocs in his paws invoking
from lower desert plains coyotes of another
kind. i want a kiss, i thot.

can you please hand me the map? he asked.
youre lookin at it, i sed cryptic, one of my
best smiles on, my left hand already 
conjuring the atlas from our moonlit console.