Coyote’s Soul, Jacob Poplawski ‘23

Coyote’s Soul

After “Choose Your Weapon” by Hiatus Kaiyote

If I could dive into That pool of memories, would You accompany me down there? Gliding gracefully along the bottom, Dredging up what has long Been forgotten. A destitute mother, Clutching two children to her Breast, scraping by through menial Work while she can still Feel the pain in her Soul.

Such is our creation, dear Sister. Let me rest upon This bed of nostalgia with You, soul to soul, hearts On sleeves, borderline to each Other’s molecules. Take a plunge Back to a simpler time, When we could breathe underwater, Ignoring the fact that our Snorkels did the work for Us. Pretending there was a Monster deep in the waters, Only to be pleasantly surprised By its harmless, true identity. Pressing our hands into paint, Leaving fingerprints of great vibrance Across a canvas of white That was there solely for Creation.

Me as the Prince and You as my fantastical Princess. Acting out the old Atari Games you always loved, spending Hours upon hours trying to Replicate those adventures on our Own. That is, when the Flames of Mother’s spirit did Not overwhelm the joy of

Our days spent together. Only Mother, someone as sticky sweet As molasses yet could burn So harshly, like Moonshine set Alight, could tame your Coyote’s Soul. Kind, yet devious, you Could bend others to your Will with seemingly no action. A free spirit is what You were. But, as a Free spirit that lacked direction, Only you could feel Mother’s Pain.

What is keeping you? Why Can you not give me An answer? Does the agony Of remembering shred your heart Into billions of tiny fragments, Impossible to ever put back Together? Since you just can’t, Or just won’t, reply to Me, I will remain where You have left me, in The wreckage of what once Was, still building my ladder To reach those dreams that You couldn’t.

Jacob Poplawski ‘23 Scholastic Honorable Mention