Coyote Spirit

The velvet tufted tip of your perked ear

The weight of your lifeless body

The way your head lolled to my hand like a child

The dry pine needles I scattered over your body

My amateur prayer

My insufficient meager apologies

I didn’t cause your death but I mourned your life

The bit of blood left on the burning pavement

The courage I needed to run across traffic to your side

The secret burial on a hillside bramble

This young coyote

This human girl

Your eyes still open, frozen in fear

My eyes welled in tears

I told you I’d follow you

We all do eventually

I only knew you long enough to bury you