Fernando Ortega

When The Coyote Comes

Fernando Ortega


Midnight in the yard 
A dog begins to bark 
The next-door neighbor 
Shuts her kitchen blinds 
Up on the moonlit rise 
Joe-Jack sleeps outside 
On an old gunnysack 
Filled with soda cans 

Out across the lawn 
2 cats have their fun 

Epi and Lou on the slippery grass 
They tumble and jump in a crazy dance 
Look up at the stars like they're in a trance 
Climb the willow tree 

Epi and Louie freeze 
They don't blink or breathe 
A sudden danger 
In the atmosphere 
Walking down the road 
Sniffing as he goes 
An old coyote 
His eyes are yellow green 

Trickster on the prowl 
Throws back his head and howls 

The night heats up when the coyote comes 
He won't rest till his work is done 
Critters flee when he comes around 
Some won't make it home 

Life is never what it seems 
Pull me from this waking dream 
I should have come inside 
So much guilt, so much regret 
Don't let my life be over 
Let me come inside 
I wanna come inside 

Epi and Lou run across the yard 
They look to the window but it's much too far 
They turn and race for the broken car 
Barely make it in 

The night heats up when the coyote comes 
He won't rest till his work is done 
Every critter flees when he comes around 
Some won't make it home