Spotting the Young - July 28, 2026

I’ve seen it in mourning doves,

lizards, once a coyote

and once a rat

that when I approached

they exhibited

a relaxed curiosity

young ones yet to receive

their most important teaching,

a lesson on survival by fear

the older ones who watch

from up in a tree or under

a bush know they can do nothing

apparently in every species

there are good students

and slow learners

with reality as the teacher

whose only grades

are pass or fail