Wolf Track

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.