Coyote Babysits the Children of the River
by Lynn Rigney Schott

--for Christopher Swain

Imagine your mother is the river
xxxand you have been an unruly child
your toys broken
xxxlitter every room
and you keep forgetting
xxxeverything you've been told

Coyote sits on a log
xxxtrying to keep his eye on you
a painted turtle suns himself
xxxslides into the water
the air fills with the dust
xxxof bright stories and dark lies
filtered through the cottonwood tremble
xxxturning gold in late September

He thinks: when it was still possible to say no
xxxwhat did you say?

He thinks: your mother weeps for you
xxxwith every moon, lost renegade child

If Coyote had a pocket
xxxhe might pull out a polished stone
or a lucky coin
xxxand place a bet on your answer

As it is he yawns
xxxstretches out for a nap
waits in the shade for your reply

In his sleep he dreams
xxxhe is howling the only question
he knows: when it is time to say yes
xxxwhat will you say?

Lynn Rigney Schott teaches at Kettle Falls High School, loves baseball and writes poetry.

Chapbooks are available for those who would like a selection of this writer's work in print. Chapbooks are a longstanding tradition in the poetry community. They are small books, often handmade, that offer at reasonable cost selections of a writer's work. Our chapbooks are laser printed one at a time as orders arrive. We print on a fine, archival-quality paper and bind each chapbook with a simple, elegant paper cover. The booklet is folded, punched and hand-sewn with an attractive cord. Each 4.25 by 7 inch chapbook includes representative work by a Headwaters Journal writer of your choice, and each will be autographed. These custom handmade books are both a keepsake item and a way for appreciative readers to support the work of their favorite writers. We expect each chapbook to sell for about $12. Please email for details.