In the Woods

In the Woods

Detritus pitched every which-

way, dark rot and loam laid

bare. Troubled patches

everywhere along the path. 

This is wild turkeys’ work.

Tossing leaf cover aside,

grubbing around like a rush

of lady shoppers at a sale bin.

Dog has no curiosity about

turkey scratch. Instead she

inspects tall weed or grass

(top to bottom) with her

omnipotent nose, quivering

moist planet of  jet beads.

Being thorough, she re-sniffs

(bottom to top) with dainty

precision for traces of the four-

footed. Deer, fox, raccoon,

rabbit. Bobcat. Bear. Coyote.

I dodge a scat pile   or two,

dreading most the coyote’s

tarry rope, clotted with bones

and fur, the final turd’s wispy

flourish   a killer’s last word.

Cathy Larson Sky 

April 04, 2020

PHOTO CREDITS:  

Scratch: National Wild Turkey Federation

Dog in woods: Cathy Larson Sky

Coyote scat: 2013 Kim A. Cabrera