Lamar Valley, Yellowstone

The valley floor
is a mottled green carpet
patched with yellow
and vermillion.
Heavy gray clouds
tease at uncovering
the waking sun.
A coyote’s high yodel
floats through
birdsong chorus,
while under both sounds
deep snorting
and drawn-out grunts
identify the hulking shapes
of bison
filing along
ancient paths
to the distant lake.

© 2008  Michael Yanega
9 December 2008