The Coyote

Trailing the last gleam after,
     In the valleys emptied of light,
Ripples a whimsical laughter
     Under the wings of the night.
Mocking the faded west airily,
Meeting the little bats merrily,
     Over the mesas it shrills
     To the red moon on the hills.

Mournfully rising and waning,
     Far through the moon-silvered land
Wails a weird voice of complaining
     Over the thorns and the sand.
Out of blue silences eerily.
On to the black mountains wearily,
     Till the dim desert is crossed,
     Wanders the cry, and is lost.

Here by the fire's ruddy streamers,
     Tired with our hopes and our fears,
We inarticulate dreamers
     Hark to the song of our years.
Up to the brooding divinity
Far in that sparkling infinity
     Cry our despair and delight,
     Voice of the Western night!