Coyote And The Cattle (Native American) Poem by Chuck Toll

Coyote was walking near a herd of cattle
When Bobcat, lying hidden in a tree, leaped
Onto a cow and wrestled her to the ground.
He cut her life quickly and began to eat.
“Teach me how! ” Coyote begged Bobcat,
Who laughed, “It’s harder than it may appear.”
But he showed him how to do it, then added.
“Be sure you choose a cow and not a steer! ”

Coyote climbed the tree and lay there flat,
But no cows walked beneath and he grew bored.
So when a steer at last came close, he leapt.
Coyote’s claws were not the claws of Bobcat.
He lost his grip and fell, and the angry steer gored
Him with its long horns for the assault so inept.