Predators

from the dark yard

our dog barked
with deep warning

an early spring evening
the forest behind us
less sparse with
every sunlit day

we watched as he ran the rear fence
left to right, back again
his instinctual memory
entire being responding
to their unwelcome presence

the coyote's three-pronged
threat grew less cautious
I heard confidence in
the faint rustling of strategy

their reliance on other
adapting to overtake
shared goal to survive 

awe, curiosity transitioned to fear
bravado would never be enough
to overcome these predators
impersonal in their purpose

we called to him, flooded the yard
with light and our noises
mindful of a force beyond ours

howling cries and yips pierced sleep
from woods beyond ours
their persistent pursuit audible 

the coyotes kin to this virus
just another impersonal predator
unwelcome genetic saboteur 

both strands parallel
the human code;
our strategies align 

our instinctual memory
to rely on, adapt
overtake, survive
is to move from
prey to predator 

again