A woman, from the mist -
careering to my way.
Bicycle-drawn beast -
leashed, running, to her side.

Then, when they pass my way -
lost greeting on the wind:
missed moment of embrace
dissolves into the mist.

But in the distance, left behind,
where once she passed, with beast in tow -
another beast, ignored, like me -
some beast belonging to noone.

A beast, like hound, but not the same.
A beast, like wolf, but not the same.
Shade of a fox, with slender frame -
coyote of the urban edge.

Its ears pricked up,
as eyes connect,
as distance lessens in my stride,
and fear of man swells in its sense.

One furtive look signals farewell
and starts it from its pose,
and from our trail, it wanders off -
begins to slink away.

But, by some impulse, drawn along -
I, too, stray from the trail,
to track this guest of our domain -
compelled to hold its gaze.

Till, finally, sinks into white -
like some strange phantom from the fog,
returning to its unseen realm,
then swallowed by the coastal air.

Almost a meeting between kinds,
lost greeting on the wind:
missed moment of embrace
dissolved into the mist.