Dozens of persimmon trees hide out 

on our wooded acreage. I refamilarize
myself with their pudding-like texture
 
& sweet taste – a mix of honey, mango
& apricot. Also inspired, my husband,
who never met a tree he didn’t want
 
to plant, decides to grow dozens. 
He could buy seedlings from a nursery
that specializes in native plants
 
 but for a challenge he chooses to “scarify”
 the seeds, which can be a time-consuming
 process. He says the best-growing
 
seeds are distressed by wild animal
droppings. He discovers coyote scat
with persimmons seeds on the trail
 
near the natural spring where wild turkeys,
deer, birds, bobcats & an occasional bear
sip & shit. Voila! Thanks to the acid
 
in the coyote’s intestines I will someday
fold the orange tang & mushy glow
of persimmons into my bread & pudding.