Looking at a Coyote
among thirty dusty men the only wet thing
the mouth of the coyote
is a mini zoo we are from many countries
in which there are many coyotes
500 bucks and we’re off think about it
is the shortest verse of a corrido
a gila monster and a coyote are one
a gila monster and a coyote and a gringo are one
strewn bottles melt dirt
the coyote’s tongue fills them
we don’t know which to swat the coyote or the froth
the mosquitoes or the flies
gringos why do you see us illegal don’t you think
we are the workers around you
we speak different accents yours included and we know
también the coyote is suspect of what we say
when the coyote hears helicopters
in Nike shoes he trots Arizona
Nogales whores close their doors
the coyote trots Arizona in Nike shoes
the desert is still the coyote must be tired
in his shadow he sees searchlights
it’s day all night it’s dusting and it’s going to dust
the coyote rests under yuccas
Source: Poetry (November 2015)