WHEN COYOTE CALLED DOWN THE STARS

Coyote’s sitting beside a fire pit late one night.
It’s real dark, and his back’s to you.

Finally, after he’s made you wait a good long while, he signals
for you to sit yourself down, and you do it.
You’re sitting right there in front of that old varmint,
but he ain’t seeing you.

WHAT?--- Coyote yells, finally looking up at you.
You thought Coyote was a Man?
Or some kind of wild dog?
Or maybe a spirit from the Before Times?
Well I’ll tell you something.
I ain’t none of those things!

You look in Coyote’s eyes.
You’re looking for signs,
signs that tell you Hey!
It’s okay.
Coyote’s only funning with ya.

But all you see is those two yellow eyes,
and the firelight flickering
reflecting your own face
dancing in those old yellow eyes of his.

Then Coyote starts messing with the fire,
sending sparks and smoke curling
all the way up to the stars.
Coyote, he’s mumbling something to himself,
and there’s the beating of nightwings overhead.
Coyote, he starts whistling,
and pulling that old blanket of his
tighter around his bony old shoulders.

Hey, Coyote! What are you calling down?

But Coyote, he doesn’t answer.
He just starts messing with that fire again,
Rocking back and forth
and mumbling something to himself.
Faster now.

Hey Coyote! What are you calling down?

Coyote, he looks up at the stars overhead
And starts grinning.
There’s those nightwings again.

Hey Coyote! What are you calling down?

And Coyote, he looks you dead in the eyes
And shakes his head like you were some sorry excuse.

Best you just sit still
and keep quiet now, if you can ---
he hisses in your general direction as he jumps up and sets to his medicine dance.

Coyote, he always means business.