The record of your passing, your presence, canine imprint, enormous, spreading, clearly written in wet earth my eyes take it in —
scouring the ground like the nose
of a bloodhound as I inspect the evidence.
My brain is occupied — analyzing — not coyote — too big — too heavy not dog — not even large dog — the angles and spaces are different,
the toes, pads, curves contain more breadth and depth and — don’t waste your time — definitely not the demure and delicate fox.
Well before the busy brain settles on its conclusion, and in fact from first sight
the body knows instantly:
WOLF!
The effect is immediate — I lose the power of speech can only point and gurgle. What’s left of me is transformed: I am become wonder powered by hope.
Wolf re-introduction may be on the Colorado ballot in 2020.