A Coyote Can Be Helpful
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.
6 thoughts on "A Coyote Can Be Helpful"
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Yes! All other methods did not germinate. Love “birds, bobcats & an occasional bear” Oh my!
Thank God for coyote poop.
A fantastic poem nature’s way. I enjoyed this one a lot. Unique and engaging.
Really wonderful. The resourcefulness of that man never fails to astonish.
Fascinating!
Love:
the title
the humor:
my husband/who never met a tree he didn’t want
to plant, decides to grow dozens.
fav lines and words:
persimmon trees hide out
“scarify”
the seeds
and that glorious last stanza 🙂
Delicious in more ways than one!
You do realize that I shall be expecting a quart or two of persimmons this fall. 😋